Glen Lynskey

Music:

Member Since: 3/9/2006
Band Members:

Photo By: Bernard Baur :

Magic Box Whojaba
with Norton Wisdom: Dispenses irresistible improvisational art, music, and boundless imagination. :

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Magic Box with Norton Wisdom:
Irish Times:
Los Angeles:

The Players: Glen Lynskey, guitars, loops; Maxwell Vision, drums; Matt Lattanzi, didgeridoo; Norton Wisdom, painter.

Material: Rising like a phoenix from the flames of outrageous creativity, Magic Box shapes a strange new soundscape that explores the outer boundaries of sound and art. This is Mad Max / Burning Man territory, with the sort of music that makes you lose all inhibitions or shocks you so much you hold on for dear life. Dispensing improvisational art-rock in its finest form, Magic Box takes you to places you never knew existed. Indeed, anyone into music that alters consciousness would become an instant fan.

Musicianship: The magic starts with Maxwell’s tribal rhythms and primal, urgent and compelling yelps. Then Lynskey, using samples and loops he creates on the spot, weaves exotic melodies in and out of the beats, producing a hypnotic atmosphere. Finally, Lattanzi drones with his didgeridoo to complete the effect. The result is inescapable. There is just too much mojo in the air to resist.

Performance: Playing in a small neighborhood pub was diabolically deceptive. This trio transformed the place into a psychedelic cauldron. Accompanying them on their mission was Norton Wisdom, who painted an assortment of surreal images during the set. When he was through with one, he started another, then another until your mind reeled. The paintings, the music, the madcap fans, it all could’ve caused a sensory overload —- if it weren’t so damn cool.

Summary: Magic Box conveys an extraordinary concept within a performance that is irresistible. Combining art, music, and boundless imagination, this band of musical alchemists creates a new world that is unfamiliar, yet inviting. In doing so, these artists are the epitome of music, art and creativity. There may be no other act quite like this one, but in an ideal world there would be more of them.

––Bernard Baur

Music Connection Magazine issue 20