Scott's Spotlight #25-- Magic Pie
Originally posted to Facebook on March 20, 2025
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Welcome to Scott’s Spotlight (#scottsspotlight) issue #25. For more information about this series, please click here:
This week, I’m putting the spotlight on Norwegian proggers Magic Pie. They were initially formed in late 2001 by guitarist Kim Steinberg, with the intention of playing original prog rock compositions. Steinberg has been the only constant member in their nearly 25 years of existence. Unfortunately, details seem hard to come by about much of the band’s history. I will piece together what I can find online and try to string together as much of the band’s history as I can.
Steinberg pulled together 5 additional musicians for the initial 6-piece line-up:
Gilbert Marshall Keyboards, lead & backing vocals
J.T. Johannesen Drums & percussions
Eirik Hansen Lead & backing vocals, acoustic guitar
Allan Olsen Lead & backing vocals, guitar
John Kamphaug Bass
In 2003, still before the first album was released, John Kamphaug was replaced by Lars Petter Holstad as the bassist, who has remained in that role to the present day. In 2005 the band would release their first album, titled “Motions of Desire.” It quickly built a strong reputation in the worldwide community of prog fans, making them a notable 21st century prog act worth listening to. The album is heavy on the epics, with the opening track, titled “Changes” clocking in at just over 20 minutes, “Full Circle Poetry,” at over 14 minutes, and the three separate tracks that comprise “Illusion & Reality,” adding up to roughly 18 minutes. Interestingly, for reasons no one outside of the band seems to know about, the parts of that suite are listed as parts 1, 3, and 4, with no Part 2. The shortest individual track (that isn’t part of the suite) is the title track at 6:36. It is a well received debut album by many prog fans, with a score of nearly 4 out of 5 stars (3.87) on ProgArchives.
The band would follow up that album 2 years later in 2007, with the terrific “Circus of Life,” maintaining the same line-up as the first album. Most of the album is dedicated to the nearly 46 minute title suite, which is divided into 5 separate tracks on the album, with the 4th part being 22 minutes and having 4 “Acts.” It is a fantastic piece of modern prog! The suite is followed by 2 other tracks at just under 9 minutes, and just over 9 and a half minutes respectively. It has a very similar ProgArchives score, with an average rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars. This is the Magic Pie album I am most familiar with, and it’s wonderful.
It would be 4 years before the next Magic Pie album appeared in 2011. There was a lineup change in 2009, between albums with EirÃkur Hauksson replacing Allan Olssen on vocals and guitars. The album is titled “The Suffering Joy,” and continues Magic Pie’s epic tradition. The album opens with a 4-track, roughly 25 minute,suite called “A Life’s Work.” Part IV of that suite accounts for 17 minutes of it, and is the title track of the album. Another track clocks in at over 15 minutes (“Tired”), and only one is under 8 minutes (the wonderfully harmonious “Endless Ocean,” which is just over 3 minutes).
Another 4-year interval and a line-up change would happen before the 4th Magic Pie album would be released in 2015, titled “King for a Day.” This time it was the keyboard slot that changed with Erling Henanger in and Gilbert Marshall out. As usual, they bring the epics! There are 2 tracks between 12 and 13 minutes long (“Introversion” and “Tears Gone Dry”), and the closing epic title track is 27 and a half minutes long. Even after the gradual line-up changes, the quality of the music maintains the same high standard. This album was produced by legendary prog producer Rich Mouser, known for his work with Spock’s Beard, Dream Theater, Transatlantic, and Lobate Scarp among others. (See the Lobate Scarp spotlight I did for information about how to help Rich rebuild his studio that was destroyed in the recent devastating California Wildfires: https://www.facebook.com/share/18PbPbLfLT/ .)
The 5th Magic Pie album also appeared after a 4-year interval in 2019, titled “Fragments of the Fifth Element.” It maintains the line up of “King for a Day,” and Rich Mouser’s production. This one doesn’t have as many epic length tracks with 3 of the 5 tracks at between 4 and 6 minutes long, it does have the 8 minute long “Touched By an Angel,” and the nearly 23 minute closing epic “The Headonist.” Until very recently, this would stand as the most recent Magic Pie album.
However, there is good news for Magic Pie fans, as the 6th album, called “Maestro,” is scheduled for release on May 16, 2025. Only one track has been released thus far, the 5:10 “Everyday Hero,” and it’s wonderful! Also, the album begins with an 18 and a half epic called “Opus Imperfectus, Pt. 1 - The Missing Chord,” and closes with the 4:17 “Opus Imperfectus, Pt. 2 - Maestro.” According to the band’s website, Magic Pie are now a 5 piece, with Martin Utby replacing longtime drummer J.T. Johannesen in 2020, and no longer listing vocalist Erik Hanssen as a member (although ProgArchives has him listed on the credits for the upcoming album).
As I have been typing this spotlight, I have had their library on shuffle, and it has been remarkably consistent in quality. Kim Steinberg is clearly the primary songwriter and an incredible guitarist (occasionally playing in a style that reminds me of Yngwie Malmsteen). As I type this, I am listening to the guitar solo on “Slightly Mad” from “The Suffering Joy,” and I am being blown away by his guitar playing. While the music sometimes has a hard edge, it would be a stretch to consider them a “Prog Metal” band. Deep Purple influences sometimes sneak in, as well as influences of classic prog bands like Yes and Genesis. The word I keep saying to myself when I listen to their music is “smokin’.” I hope that if you are unfamiliar with Magic Pie, you will check out the “Links for Listening,” below. Thanks for reading!
LINKS FOR LISTENING:
From “Motions of Desire”
“Motions of Desire”
“Change”
From “Circus of Life”
“Circus of Life Pt. 2 (Freakshow)”
“Pointless Masquerade”
From: “The Suffering Joy”
“Headlines”
“Slightly Mad”
From: “King for a Day”
“Trick of the Trade” (official video)
“Introversion”
From: “Fragments of the Fifth Element”
“The Man Who Had It All” (official video)
“P & C” (official video)
From “Maestro”
“Everyday Hero” (Official Video – Released only one week ago as I publish this.)
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