THE MAGIC NUMBERS

THE MAGIC NUMBERS
THE MAGIC NUMBERS (2005)
320 KBPS

In an age of vigorously-marketed rag-trade clothes horses, Trinidad/New York/London collective the Magic Numbers are an anomaly; a word-of-mouth phenomenon whose affable live shows have been compared to happy clappy religious experiences and whose music--an unfashionable blend of soft country pop with Fifties and Sixties inflections--is evidently more important to them than the intercession of style gurus and hairdressers. The "kids" are converted and the band's self-titled debut album may prove to be the most surprising success story of the year. Comprising two pairs of siblings, the Stodarts (singer and songwriter Romeo; the girth of a bear, the hair and beard of a friendly fairy-tale giant and the voice of a mouse; sister Michelle on bass, keyboards, vocals) and the Gannons (the equally hirsute Sean on drums; sister Angela on vocals, melodica and percussion) the familial ties shine through in the wholesome, harmonious nature of it all, from the skiffle of "Long Legs" and the upbeat Undertones-flavoured pop of "Love Me Like You" to the melting, dreamy teen frustration dialogues of "Love's a Game" and "I See You, You See Me". The Magic Numbers offer conclusive proof that math isn't boring.

1. Mornings Eleven
2. Forever Lost
3. The Mule
4. Long Legs
5. Love Me Like You
6. Which Way to Happy
7. I See You, You See Me
8. Don't Give Up the Fight
9. This Love
10. Wheels on Fire
11. Love's a Game
12. Try
Bonus Track
13. Hymn for Her