Whyte Magick casts a conceptual musical spell

Described on its cover as "a mystical art-rock opus," Whyte Magick could also be labeled with that classic designation from the Seventies: "concept album." Masterminded by a musician from Australia named Zoran Bilogrevic, the beautifully-packaged production comes with not only a regular full-length audio CD, but also a DTS 5.1 DVD that includes artistic montages and visuals to complement the fanciful tale that unfolds in the accompanying 28-page booklet. Zoran and friends present the saga of a jaded rock star named Viktor Chardah, who unexpectedly undergoes a mysterious journey into the realm of myth and magic. Along the way, the bewildered, beleaguered rocker encounters fearful phantoms and fantastic possibilities in a dream-like ordeal that draws from ancient traditions of folklore, fable, and faerie. Although Viktor is portrayed as a heavy-metal guitarist, Whyte Magick’s mostly-instrumental compilation is not too metallic itself, but rather, seems designed to set a mystic mood and an attitude of introspection. The listener is permitted to ponder, like the album’s protagonist, the purpose of existence itself, while a lush sonic tapestry is woven during the mysterious journey. On the fifth track, entitled “Spellbinder,” Zoran enlists a stellar flute player for a new take on Bach's "Bourree," that baroque bit first made famous for modern audiences by Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull – and this fresh approach is equally satisfying. Throughout the disk, various passages might remind one of Mike Oldfield or Alan Parsons or Ambrosia, among other popular purveyors of electric music that’s deep and textured, yet not too heavy-handed. Hypnotic and pensive, "Whyte Magick" spins a benign spell for the listener, paving a path for introspection, reflection, and potential redemption.

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