A Bit of Magic in the Shape of Numbers!
THE MAGIC NUMBERS
A pinch of country, a soupçon of soft rock and a morsel of 60s soul thrown into a brother/sister cauldron of bubbling '60s vibes.
This album rocks gently; it takes you skipping through an orchard; it cheerfully accompanies you on the open road; and it sits you down, gets you comfortable, fetches you a glass of lemonade - with ice and lime - and tenderly engages you.
MORNINGS ELEVEN opens the fun with happy rock and roll. It's gentle but assertive with the music. It skips merrily, whistling, through a number of feels, stopping occasionally to tap its toe.
FOREVER LOST asks to be whistled to; and it will be.
THE MULE starts cool, and then stomps slightly. It opens with toe-tapping guitar and fun bass and is accompanied by a chatty story vocal line. The Mule demonstrates very clearly how 'The Magic Numbers' are going to interchange between two different moods in a song. Just when you think the song could be drawing to an unspectacular close, the first guitar solo bursts to the forefront of the headphones and rocks.
LONG LEGS is introduced by some fine '60s drum and bass. It then jogs along with bell percussion and is hugely picked up at various points by a soothing yet striking guitar fill; and also when the singer goes: "Oh baby baby…"
The opening to LOVE ME LIKE YOU announces that 'The Magic Numbers' could be great. The intro puts the roll into their rock and roll and the song's eagerly awaited chorus lives up to what it deserves. Clapped back into verse - nice. Could be great.
WHICH WAY TO HAPPY welcomes words like beautiful and handsome to a subconscious description of the bands song writing (one is too immersed in the music to be able to hall it to the front of his/her brain).
I SEE YOU, YOU SEE ME. Resounding introduction doubled up with perfect accompaniment in the form of a bass drum and tambourine flows wonderfully into "I never wanted to love you". This song is truly loveable. It sees the introduction of a female leading the vocals, and immediately, she's in her element in this song. Her first line: "I never thought that you wanted for me to stay", is stunning. As is, "I often thought that you'd be better off left alone". Just beautiful.
DON'T GIVE UP THE FIGHT. Surely a summer anthem sitting in an awesome waiting room where only awesome songs wait, with ants in its pants.
THIS LOVE. Dark beauty
WHEELS ON FIRE. The title line brings together a male and female vocal subtly sparkling in their harmony(s). Sunny and Cher, but brother and sister.
LOVE'S A GAME. Bouncy. Will stick. Thumbs up.
TRY. Beautiful, chilled, funny, oh yeah harmonising does not do justice what these guys can do together.
DREW WALKER |
DFA Records: Holiday Mix 2005
DFA Records: Holiday Mix 2005
