Magnet - The Tourniquet

  by Geraint Jones

published: 18 / 9 / 2005

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Review

This is actually Magnet’s (aka Even Johansen) third album, his debut having initially been released under his own name before receiving a subsequent re-release under the Magnet nom-de-plume, under which he is now known. He was formerly front-man with Libido, who despite being two thirds Norwegian were most often roped in with the tail ends of the Brit Pop boom of the mid to late 90's. In their previous incarnation, Dive, in the mid-90's, to my ears at least the album they were touting around at the time is an undiscovered gem that tragically remains unreleased. Superbly played and produced, much of it later surfaced on Libido’s debut several years later, albeit re-recorded and much the worse for it. Perhaps eventually, should Magnet breakthrough to bigger things someone will one day see fit to dig it out of its archive and give it the full release it deserves. Going back to the present day, while Johansen has an excellent pop voice, how ironic that on ‘The Tourniquet’ he’s contrived to mine the same hybrid of introspective folk-tinged electronica/pop that he’s pursued in his solo guise having called on the services of Jason Falkner, one of the great, albeit relatively unsung, contemporary pop songwriters/tunesmiths around to play on and co-produce at least half of the album. Johansen’s propensity for restraint has its moments but over the course of the whole album with things barely developing beyond a canter in terms of pace it becomes quite frustrating. While the arrangements occasionally threaten to reach a spellbinding crescendo, sadly they never quite do. It’s all pleasant, sometimes clever, but disappointingly it all seems to blend into a homogenous hole that is ultimately underwhelming. The prospect of Magnet working with Falkner who’s CV includes stints with Jellyfish, the Grays, Beck, Air and production and sideman duties with Brendan Benson, quite apart from releasing some exemplary solo material, was an enticing one which sadly has failed to deliver. I know Even Johansen is capable of better so let’s hope that with his Magnet alter ego he eventually rediscovers his form.

Track Listing:-

1 Hold On
2 Duracellia
3 The Pacemaker
4 Believe
5 All You Ask
6 Deadlock
7 Fall at Your Feet
8 Blow by Blow
9 Miss Her So
10 Jaws