The Magic Position

The Magic Position
Studio album by Patrick Wolf
Released	26 February 2007
Genre	Folktronica, indietronica
Length	40:40
Label	Loog Records
Producer	Patrick Wolf
Patrick Wolf chronology
Wind in the Wires (2005) The Magic Position (2007) The Bachelor (2009)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Drowned in Sound	[2]
The Guardian	[3]
NME	[4]
No Ripcord	[5]
Pitchfork Media	8.3/10[6]
Playlouder	[7]
Slant Magazine	[8]
Stylus Magazine	(A)[9]
This Is Fake DIY	[10]

The Magic Position is the third studio album by English-Irish singer-songwriter Patrick Wolf. It was released on February 26, 2007. The album features collaborations with Marianne Faithfull and Edward Larrikin of Larrikin Love as well as backing vocals by Wolf's sister Jo Apps and also bass and alto clarinet instrumentation by Derek Apps. The album was preceded by the singles "Accident & Emergency" and "Bluebells". Video performances of "Augustine" and "Bluebells" can be freely downloaded, along with older songs and interviews, on the Patrick Wolf podcast in the iTunes Store.

Music critics and Wolf himself have noted that this album marks a departure from the musical style of his previous two albums, with this one being more pop-oriented. He cites Boney M and Giorgio Moroder as influences.^[11] Slant Magazine named The Magic Position the best album of 2007.^[12]

Track listing

1. "Overture" – 4:40
2. "The Magic Position" – 3:53
3. "Accident & Emergency" – 3:17 (featuring Edward Larrikin)
4. "The Bluebell" – 1:11
5. "Bluebells" – 5:17
6. "Magpie" – 3:57 (featuring Marianne Faithfull)
7. "The Kiss" – 1:05
8. "Augustine" – 4:19
9. "Secret Garden" – 1:49
10. "Get Lost" – 3:17
11. "Enchanted" – 2:07
12. "The Stars" – 3:51
13. "Finale" – 1:57

Digital download

14. "The Marriage" – 2:46

UK enhanced edition

14. "Bluebells" (music video)

Japanese edition

14. "Underworld"
15. "Adder"
16. "Ari's Song" (Misprinted as "Ali's Song")
17. "The Marriage"
18. "Accident & Emergency" (music video)
19. "The Magic Position" (music video)

Canadian edition

14. "The Childcatcher" (live)
15. "Luna & Libertine" (live)

Singles

• October 23, 2006: "Accident & Emergency"
• January 1, 2007: "Bluebells" (download-only)
• March 26, 2007: "The Magic Position"
• July 2, 2007: "Get Lost"^[13]

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
2007	US Top Heatseekers	42[14]
	UK Albums Chart	46[15]

Personnel

• Patrick Wolf – lead vocals, two Bosendorfer grand pianos, Kawaii Modular synths, baritone and soprano ukelele, mountain dulcimer, five- and 15-string kanteles, clavichord, clavinet, audio and electronic programming, theremin, harmonium, Autoharp, locks and keys, bells, gongs, Morris bells, handclaps
• Victoria Sutherland – solo violin
• Marianne Faithfull – vocals on "Magpie"
• Jo Apps – backing and sister vocal
• Derek Apps – bass and alto clarinets
• Katy Wright – solo cello
• Mark Rudland – trombones
• Flip Phillipp – vibraphone and glockenspiel
• Edward Larrikin – vocals on "Accident & Emergency"
• Richard Eigner – drums
• Werner Dafeldecker – double bass
• Jeremy Shaw, Richard Eigner, Patrick Pulsinger and Anna at Eastcote – handclaps
• Andreas Kaufmann – first violin
• Alexej Barer – second violin
• Raphael Handschuh – viola
• Rozaliya Rashkova – cello

References

1. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-magic-position-r950325
2. ^ http://drownedinsound.com/releases/9189/reviews/1672160
3. ^ http://music.guardian.co.uk/pop/reviews/story/0,,2018992,00.html
4. ^ http://www.nme.com/reviews/patrick-wolf/8171
5. ^ http://www.noripcord.com/?q=node/470
6. ^ http://pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/41523/Patrick_Wolf_The_Magic_Position
7. ^ http://www.playlouder.com/review/+the-magic-positi/
8. ^ http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=1107
9. ^ http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/patrick-wolf/the-magic-position.htm
10. ^ http://www.thisisfakediy.co.uk/articles/4311.html
11. ^ Lindsay, Cam (May 2007). "The Amorphous Patrick Wolf". Exclaim!. p. 15. http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid1=110&csid2=4&fid1=25097. Retrieved 2007-08-02. 
12. ^ http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/features/2007yearinmusic.asp
13. ^ Billboard.com - Discography - Patrick Wolf - Get Lost
14. ^ Billboard.com - Artist Chart History - Patrick Wolf
15. ^ Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position - Music Charts