Aptly and perfecty titled.
5
By HMSScott
As is typical of Julia Fordham's previous albums, "Magic" is beautiful, thoughtful work, now extra-infused with the kind of love and light that comes from being the kind of parent who has surrendered to the overwhelming experience of having a child and discovered the unique kind of gorgeousness that accompanies the exhilerating terror of parenting. I give it 5 stars because it absolutely succeeds at what it set out to do: offerwarm, grounded and intelliegent music from a parent's viewpoint that is also genuinely, deeply moving jazzy pop music. So much easier said than done.
In his essay collection "Songbook," Nick Hornby explores the subjects make for the great and lasting songs. The biggest of all, of course, is love, but one of the questions he asks is why so many people have been able to write classic songs about the groupie they met in the backstage bathroom while so few have been able to write beautifully and compellingly about something far more profound, namely, KIDS. Generally speaking he’s probably right, but for the exception to the rule, I humbly submit this album. Julia's ability to convey her experiences while also making room for her listeners is astonishing. She's always been able to do that with any subject she's tackled, which is rare enough. But the ability convey deep, resonant and universal feelings and histories from a parent's point of view takes a special kind of writer, performer and human.
Which, of course, she is.
