by 1999 only johnson remained from the original trio, and the departure of chennell left him free to lead the band into a much more conventional format and sound. a line-up of glen johnson, miguel marin, john cheves and paul tornbohm recorded the third album, "artists' rifles", with john a rivers (producer of dead can dance and felt), and showcased its guitar-based sound, "a mixture of chiming guitars and processional rhythms", at the benicassim and bam music festivals. by now, piano magic was proving more popular abroad than in their homeland, and the next few years' activity included mainly european tours.