Masters of Illusion

Magenta follow up 2017's much-praised "We Are Legend" with a brand new studio album "Masters of Illusion". The 60 minute album consists of six songs, including the 17 minute title track. The album’s theme is based around the lives of six famous horror actors of the 1950s and 1960s. The six songs on "Masters of Illusion" produce a combined multi-chromatic palette of colors that are as varied as the rainbow. From granite grey funk to sparkling pink pop, from the black depths of regret to the triumphant feel of, well, magenta, it is all to be found here. Melody and harmony create vivid colors on this album. Exactly why the Reed brothers selected the horror actor theme to be their next choice of concept becomes, quite frankly, immaterial. More to the point is that the concept has led Magenta to deliver a collection of Prog songs that will galvanize any melodic Prog fan-base.

The Masters of Deceit were an Indianapolis band that had its only release, "Hensley’s Electric Jazz Band & Synthetic Symphonette" on the highbrow east coast major label Vanguard Records. Led by keyboardist Tom Hensley, who also handled most of the vocals, the band also included Steve Blum on guitar, Gary Campbell, bass and vocals, and Stan Gage on drums. Soon afterwards, Hensley relocated to Los Angeles and became a successful session keyboardist, playing with many big names, including Neil Diamond, Helen Reddy, Cher, David Cassidy, The Carpenters - to name but a few. Musically, The Masters of Deceit occupy an end of 60’s/beginning of 70’s transitional niche, drawing from psychedelia, jazz-rock and progressive rock.