On first discovering The Magic Numbers I was mistaken for thinking that this four piece were a folky, country American hippy band. Long black hair, huge shaggy black beards, Oh Man! these weird folks are a definitely a throw back to the 60's. The wanderers who got lost on there way back from Woodstock, they got on the wrong bus and ended in Ealing (of all places!). As legend has it these guys are indeed from West London. The band comprises of two sets of siblings - Romeo and Michele Stodart AND Sean and Angela Gannon. Romeo (Lead Vocals,Guitar) sister Michele (Vocals, Bass) - Sean (Drums) sister Angela (Vocals, Melodica) have that country sound about them, with their hippyish looks, they do have that angle to them. The whole album is emerged in country fever, the yee-haw factor is pretty high. An added soaking of cleverly interwoven bluesy edge to the proceedings makes the album a real eye opener to the band and their music. Even if your not a fan of country or blues, believe you me after listening to this album you will be converted forever! The simplicity and ease at which the band construct and perform each song makes this album so appealing.
Current single Forever Lost is typical of the groups image. Summery pop, chill out tones and laid back melodies this single surely is set to be the song of the summer, and one of the songs for the festival season. A sure fire hit at Glastonbury in anybody's books. " Don't let the sun be the one to change you baby/I want to learn how to lie, if I'm to know cause/I want to go where the people go/Cause I forever lost" Let the long summer days unfold before us, lets the long cool summer breezes comfort us and let the long cold beers invigrate us!!! Open track Mornings Eleven has a lot of very jiggling banjos and almost a Kings Of Leon style structure. A swinging country feel, backed up by a bluesy melody. If ever you decided to go barn dancing, this is a track with which you would be tapping those toes and stamping them there feet! The Mule is the most bluesy orientated song on the album. The opening gutiar riffs are incredibly poignant, the great B B King himself would be proud of riffs like those. Long Legs intro is so similar to that of Hey Mickey! The catchy boom boomy sound of Sean Gannon on drums gives the song a solid platform to start from. Love Me Like You has a style simliar to that of the strokes. The bass has that swinging New York feel to it. Though the main difference is the backing vocals which, supplied by Michele Stodart and Angela Gannon, are almost angelic and would never fit into any Strokes song. You get the feeling that [that band's] Julian Casablancas wouldn't particular warm to the idea! Which Way To Happy you could hear at a school prom, as the lights fade and the party goers race to the dance floor for the last song of the evening. A slow waltz perhaps. The hoard gather on the floor to to find someone to dance with (anyone would do, but you know the score, girl boy - boy girl, snog, kiss etc) I See You, You See Me has a fairtale beginning, soft fair music playing to easy you into another tranquil, chill out mode. A story of after years of waiting, searching, you suddenly find someone, you start to feel and understand thoughts and issues which you want to explore and find the answer to, hopefully this will lead them to you, confusion and hestitation give way to seeing and believing. A chance has been presented to you and you grab it with both hands.
The Magic Numbers save the best song until (almost) the end. Wheels Of Fire is an extraordinary piece. The track is sung so softly that it could send a new born baby to sleep, a natural easy blissful slumber. The tones of Romeo Stodart are so quiet that it sounds like a small church mouse, scurrying through the hall of a great church cathedral, not making a sound.
This album is a delightful insite into the world of The Magic Numbers. The country feel of there songs is so strong and alluring that you have to take part and start to yodel!!!! Yeehaw there partner! This is going to be one of the album of the summer! It's the perfect record for chiling out with some friends in a sun drenched garden drinking ice cold beers, debating about the who played the greatest set at Glastonbury or Reading?
This album is an absolute must! I totally recommend it :-)
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