The Magic Numbers - 'The Magic Numbers' (Heavenly / EMI) Released 20/06/05

After a stellar guest appearance on the latest effort from the Chemical Brothers on the back of the peerless ‘Hymn For Her’ EP The Magic Numbers pull out all the stops with a beautifully clever debut album. From first track ‘Mornings Eleven’ the pretty (voiced) folksters dazzle and amaze on every second of this LP. Imagine if you will the shimmering pop of Belle & Sebastian fronted by Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips. No really…  

“I have eeeeeeeee-it  all… I would die for you…” singer Romeo coos over lush female harmonies that will melt your heart like a flamethrower pointed at your chest. This leads us to recent contender for single of the year so far in ‘Forever Lost’ which in case you haven’t heard is the absolute bollocks and shows us most poignantly where their charms really lie. The gorgeous vocals of Michelle and Angela create a fluffy pink forcefield around Romeo’s distinctive optimism. Even when they sing “…Looks like it all went wrong, What am I  to do, What am I  to do?” A joy underpins the melody so well it seems sooooo impossibly euphoric its untrue.

Next up and show opener ‘The Mule’ is more of the same, pretty feminine harmonies and a song shot with just the right amount of countrified soul that it makes it fucking hard not to grin like a loon when you hear it. Trying to find a low point on this CD is damned near impossible but to be fair the overall warmth may be a little sickly for the Kaiser Chiefs / Futureheads / Libertines generation, suckers.

This is such a superficial complaint though really all things considered and deny anyone who loves music not to be affected by ‘I see you, you see me’. This is the highlight of the album with Angela taking lead vocal duties to produce the best ballad you are ever likely to hear in your life. Her delightful tones ascend the sky with all the majesty and grace of a butterfly on a hot summers day. ‘Hymn For Her’ is tacked on as a secret track which is bemusing considering how stunning their first A side really is. The Magic Numbers have conjured something special here and how refreshing that a band actually lives up to their name.