It's possible that the same phrases recur in reviews because they come as close to expressing what the reviewer has experienced as any words might. "Lifting veils" and "letting the music play" convey a perception clearly, in my opinion...and have been applied by reviewers to other components than cable. With respect to synergy, reviewers in the magazines you mention typically indicate the component complement with which they've auditioned cables (and, again, other components)...and frequently compare the cable under review with other cables used in the same system. What's problematical here is that (all too) frequently the equipment with which the review component is associated is in the megabuck stratosphere that I know I sure as heck can't traverse. The proof of the pudding, of course, is in the listening...which is why your best option might be to take up the offer of some vendors to audition the cable in your home for up to 30 days before making a decision on whether to buy. Reviewers can take you only so far, after all...perhaps only as far as piqueing your interest. _You_ have to do the "dirty work" of evaluating whether the product suits you.
Honest Reviewers ?
Ever wonder why 99% of all reviwers seem to use the same expressions. No ? Well, I sure have been thinking about this. It's not that I have nothing better to do, but I keep asking why do they say the same things like .... " It sounds like a veil has been lifted" or "it sounds like the glass has been wiped clean" and the current favorite is "it just gets out of the way and let the music play ". Stereophile and the Absolute Sound seem to compete for the most stupid cliches. It appears that CABLE reviews will make reviewers go wild with verbal intoxication. Just sit and think about this crazy idea I am about to suggest. A group of 2 or 3 honest people with high expertise in the audio arena deciding to call the shots as they see them ! They would compare equipment or cables against each other and list their relative strengths, they would even offer opinions on any possible synergy between equipment and cables, if such a thing exists. They would have no fear. What a Concept !