The Magic Numbers

ukevents · Joined: 15 Dec 2003 Posts: 1980

The Magic Numbers. The Hardest Working Band in Music?

Jay Morey

This happy hippy styled foursome has been chilling the airwaves for two solid years. Since the debut of self-titled debut in June 2005, they have been touring and recording endlessly.

Indie in all of its guitar-laden form and Jonny Borell soaked attitude has taken over British music yet again. Newer gluts of bands are being tipped as the next great thing. Razorlight, The Enemy, The Twang. Each has their charm. Each has a devoted fan base. But none have had the output of the Magic Numbers. The set of siblings have released two albums in two years, been on at least 3 major tours, played all the festivals, Glastonbury twice, Travelled Europe, Japan, supported Brain Wilson, played MySpace and AOL Sessions, and appeared on shed loads of shows, radio sessions and pop quizzes ad award shows.

I saw them in November of 2006, and a very passionate crowd sang along with front man Romeo Stodart's heartfelt lyrics and faux American accent with enthusiasm. His voice may sound heavily Beach Boys influenced, as it is, but even though he speaks with an English accent the lilt of his singing voice doesn’t irritate like it does from Joss Stone. It soothes. The gig in Hammersmith Apollo was not a disappointment; they did seem to play their better most notable songs nearer the start of the set however. Most of the tracks from second album Those The Brokes didn’t elicit much joy from the audience. Pleasant as these songs may be, Those The Brokes is a much deeper album but does have some filler, they didn’t get the kids and couples up to dance and smooch like Love Me Like You and Forever Lost.

And at this years Glastonbury they played safe again with their hits from the debut. As much as they tour and promote Those The Brokes, the chart positions will continue to disappoint (their last single hit 36 and got no higher,) the audiences want to hear their much more radio friendly debut album tracks. Which is sad, but understandable. As Romeo Stodart gets deeper with his lyrics, he is bound to lose most of the fans that tagged onto them for their happy chilled breeziness of Forever Lost. Ask Keane, Kasabian and Kaiser Chiefs who lost a lot of momentum with more through and profound offerings. But the difference is the Magic Numbers know what please the crowds, they now what make the festival audiences bounce. Maybe that will be their saviour and the next album may be less rushed and derivative and much more like the cheerful Ealing kids we came to love during 2005.

Buy Magic Numbers here