THE NEW MAGIC – Worm’s Eye View

ZF2409LP | Vinyl LP | Release date: 18 October 2024
132 copies on transparent pine green vinyl. Comes in full colour sleeve and black polylined inner bag.
63 copies on opaque pine green vinyl. Comes in full colour sleeve and black polylined inner bag.
ZF2409DL | Digital Album | Release date: 18 October 2024
Available via Bandcamp.

Side A:
1. The Arrival
2. Music for Fungi and Sheep
3. Comma

Side B:
1. Land of Moons and Masks
2. Pine & Mahogany
3. Anywhere

Teodor Elstad – upright bass
Filip Zenon Ramberg – drums
Martin van Houtum – pianos, organs and synthesizers, electric & acoustic guitars, bass guitar, mandolin, percussion, vocals

Written, arranged, produced and mixed by Martin van Houtum.

Recorded at Battle View Studio and various other places, 2021-2023.
Mastered by Jacob Holm-Lupo at Dude Ranch Studio.

Front cover illustration and details on labels by Karaska Design: “Only Lovers Left Alive”.
Graphics and layout by Yvonne Rystad.
Photography by Martin van Houtum & Yvonne Rystad.

Executive producer: Petter Flaten Eilertsen.
Label logo design by Tuva Fenstad Kleberg.

For Kasper.

Manufactured by T-Time Vinyl Plant, Stavanger, Norway.

The New Magic is the music of Martin van Houtum, and the very talented people joining in. Based in Oslo, Norway, the writer, producer and multi-instrumentalist has spent years exploring different styles and sounds, always trying to expand his creative horizon.

The New Magic released the critically acclaimed album Bird’s Eye View (ZF2403LP) on Zen Feedbacker in March 2024. A wealth of material was recorded for that album, but for reasons good or bad, several tracks were deemed unfit as parts of the puzzle.

Enter Worm’s Eye View (ZF2409LP), where some of these pieces come together, standing on their own, offering a different perspective. The result is an album that feels like a counterpart to its sibling – less concerned with jazzy, trippy art pop, more concerned with ambient, minimalism and sonic exploration. Mellow, playful, sometimes strange and feverish, always heartfelt and truthful.

Worm’s Eye View is available on opaque pine green vinyl limited to 63 copies (artist/label exclusive) and transparent pine green vinyl limited to 132 copies, plus as a digital album. Special offers are Vinyl Bundle including Bird’s Eye View and Worm’s Eye View, and Goodie Bag Bundle including both albums and a tote bag.

FFO: Brian Eno, Tangerine Dream, Hiroshi Yoshimura, Cluster, Bo Hansson, Æolus, Philip Glass…