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Odyssey

Barnes, Lloyd

Enigma, Ltd.

(Based on 2 reviews)
"Some of the most direct and visual work I have ever seen. You would be a fool to miss this!"
-Alan Rorrison. Consultant for Dynamo, Creator 'Smoke' by Theory 11.

"Holy CR#P! That's some super visual stuff.... Unreal!"
-Titanas. Creator of Titans' Finger by Paul Harris Presents.

Odyssey is a 20 effect double disk project straight from the fabulously creative mind of Lloyd Barnes.

After over 8 years in the making, Lloyd Barnes (consultant for Channel 4's six part television magic series 'Troy') is finally releasing some of his most close guarded and sought after secrets on this debut, beautifully shot and packaged, double-disc DVD box set.

From watching Odyssey, you'll learn 20 of Lloyd's uniquely visual, direct and practical effects. All of this is taught in expert detail, including professional tips, tricks and nuances learned from years of performance and refinement.

Disc 1:
  • STEADFAST: Melt a ring off a rubber band in Three Phases.
  • SLOMO SANDWICH: Visually see a card slowly appear between two sandwich cards.
  • COVERT: Lloyd's take on the classic card to wallet plot.
  • SWEET COLUMBIA: Visual change a cup full of sugar into coffee granules.
  • THREE IN THE BED: A selected card appears sandwiched between two cards inside the box.
  • PURE: A colour change that looks like real magic.
  • MOONSHINE: An abstract and fooling coin vanish.
  • SPARE CHANGE: Melt a borrowed coin through a the bottom of a coffee mug.
  • SIGN VANISH: An extremely natural coin vanish.
  • LOOPHOLE: Link and unlink two borrowed rubber bands together.
Disc 2:
  • GLIMMER: A hyper visual coin through glass.
  • SANDSWITCH: One of the most natural looking switches of a sandwich card you'll ever see.
  • SCARLETT UTILITY: A powerful utility move.
  • FACE OFF: The Ace of Spades visually changes between two sandwich cards.
  • ONLY 2WO: Copper Silver on steroids.
  • HARVEY CHANGE: Two cards visually change at the same time.
  • LOOPER: Transpose a selected card from between two sandwich cards.
  • BANKRUPT: Melt a straw through a borrowed banknote in two visual phases.
  • BARREL CHANGE: The original slow motion colour change.
  • JACKASS: Four Jacks visual vanish one a time from the deck.

Reviews

Stephan Sloan

Official Reviewer

Jan 19, 2023

Overview

Odyssey by Lloyd Barnes is appropriately named being it is a snapshot of his journey through magic. I didn’t expect much from this DVD set but I was pleasantly surprised. The DVD comprises of bits and pieces of his magical creations and runs the gamut of rubber band routines to utility moves. Although it is a hodgepodge of various “things” Barnes created in his 10 year tenure as a magician, I was quite impressed at his first attempt at releasing some of his material.

Effect

Odyssey is a collection of 20 pieces of magic that do not fall into any particular category. If you had to classify the magic on this DVD set, I would say it is for the magician that is looking for a quick, magical intro or something you can use when someone asks for you to perform something and you really don’t have time for a fully fleshed out routine.

Method

Decks of cards, coins, straws and rubber bands are the objects of choice. There is a mix of sleights, gimmicked cards and gimmicked coins and other paraphernalia that most magicians would have on hand.

Product Quality

As stated before, I was pleasantly surprised at the production quality of the release. My main issue with all magic releases; is how comprehensible is it? Although the filming was done in a house (apartment), the quality was surprisingly good. There were multiple camera angles when needed and the lighting and sound where more than adequate. Surprisingly, the quality was better than many more well-known magician’s releases. Just as important, his instructions were spoken at an understandable pace and very thorough. Once again, I was pleasantly surprised. The only negative I can find is he is a bit talky before each effect. However, given his age and his enthusiasm for magic, it is forgivable.

Ad Copy Integrity

The ad copy is accurate. If you like that quick “show me something” magic you will get a lot out of this DVD set. Even if you do not perform a lot of those quickie effects, you will no doubt get some mileage out of what is offered here.

Final Thoughts

A very nice production for such a young performer and creator.
(Top ▲)

Joe Diamond

Official Reviewer

Mar 25, 2014

This is a well produced first effort from creator Lloyd Barnes from the UK.

I liked a good portion of the material, and Lloyd claims all of it is audience tested. Some of the material like the Card In Wallet seemed very transparent to me (especially when there are SO many deceptive options for this effect) but Lloyd says it works, and I take his word for it.

The effects I did enjoy included:

-A ring on rubber band routine that ends with the rubber band penetrating the spectators finger while it’s on their finger!

-A super visual sugar to coffee transformation with a very clever and practical method.

-A practical, knuckle-busting, and deceptive copper silver transpo with only two coins.

My two biggest issues are the effects that feel like conquered territory. There are effects that already have more practical or deceptive versions in the literature. For example, there’s a straw thru bill routine that ends with the straw examinable, and the bill (the more interesting object) dirty. The other thing that bugged me about this DVD set were all the long winded introductions of each of these effects. Sometimes there was a nugget of wisdom about the creative process, but for the most part, it’s just Lloyd going on and on about how interesting or visual the effect is. I spent a good amount of time yelling at the screen, “Stop selling me on the trick! I bought the DVD, and put it on, I’m already sold. SHOW it to me.”

This DVD set is over four hours long, and could have probably cut an hour by skipping the introductions. There’s a good amount of solid material here, so the filler introductions are especially not needed.

Overall, the price is fair for the amount of original material you get, I can see someone finding a few things they will work on and perform, and the material itself is good.

Three and a Half Stars
(Top ▲)