The Modern Day Wizard

Slow Magic’s biography reads: “Slow Magic is the sound made by an unknown imaginary friend.” Donning a tribal face mask that appears unremovable, the mysterious composer has yet to reveal his identity. His latest album, How To Run Away, is not as mysterious as its maker, but instead has emerged from his cauldron, bathed in a candy-colored mist.

The images he creates are nothing short of what his name suggests. Yes, it’s magical and his creations appear before us like pink and purple puffs of fairy dust (say that five times fast). The tracks are impressive works of intense attention to detail and scope. On the whole, he steps back and lets his creations fly into the sky, sparkly and glowing like fireworks. We’re at a distance, gazing up at the sounds on “Girls” and “Let U Go.” However, on other tracks, such as “Closer,” he casts spells directly at us, subject to his rapidly ticking hi-hat.

“Dazzling” is an apt term to use, specifically for this kind of production-focused music.  And they dazzle like any dazzling song would.  The opener, “Still Life,” is like the grandiose theme song to an 80s video game. The song “Bear Dance” is groovy like the title implies– a futuristic version of a tribal boogie that is beat heavy and covered with clicks in every decibel.  The last thirty seconds of “Waited For U” is something of a musical autopsy – he dissects the track and gives us a glimpse into the song’s framework.

For an album that lacks lyrics, it is surprisingly visual in the sense that Slow Magic gives us a viewfinder to peep through his lens. Staring into it is like looking into a kaleidoscope. He filters out unnecessary layers of fuzz and filler, yet still uses complexity to his advantage that leaves us with a crisp, colorful image in its fullest detail.  Slow Magic’s filters are like surgical incisions, but they don’t reveal blood, or tissue. Instead, the tracks are composed of another material: star dust and magic powder.