There Is No Such Thing As Magic

For two or three songs (I’m inclined to think two is the correct number but my memory keeps playing tricks on me), The Magic Numbers were fun. Not intellectually or musically challenging. No, those are big words and the band’s music was not made for such great words. But those sweet love songs (all I seem to remember about them, not name or how the chorus was) were fun. Yes, I am aware that anytime I can search the internet, a simple click on Lastfm or Youtube and refresh the memory of those songs. Trouble is there is nothing the makes me want to, just like there was nothing that made me want to hear any other The Magic Numbers songs. Of course, back when they still had a debut album, I did listen to it. Trouble was it was bland enough to make me forget about the four Brits.

Trouble is their new album, The Runaway, convinced me I did nothing wrong when I chose to do so. Being nice and sweet is all ok but The Magic Numbers abuse these two things to the point where it’s nauseating. And boring. Really boring. They once in a while try something like a bit of psychedelia or a heavier beat as if trying to get closer to the esthetics of bands like Sons and Daughters but too little and they do it as if forced by someone. But it’s Romeo Stodart’s voice that ruins it all and gets on your nerves. Too eager to show all the pains of love, too common, too bland, too lo-fi.

Trouble is it could’ve been a really nice album, the kind that calls for a quiet day. Its major problems are not the instrumentals. Not even the fact that the crescendos of Sound of Something or strings on Dreams Of A Revelation are so cheesy you feel embarrassed they wrote such a song. Or that The Song That No One Knows is so early 90s boy band ballad. Its major problem is its inconsistency. Its major problem is that is gives you a hint of what The Magic Numbers could do if only Romeo would step down and let the girls sing. Among all the bad ideas that become songs, Throwing My Heart Away shines so bright with its female vocals and Camera Obscura feeling. In fact, it is here and on Why Did You Call?, when The Magic Numbers drop off the folk pretense and embrace pop and little hints of electro pop, that they make remarkable songs, with real emotions. Why Did You Call? is the only moment when Romeo’s hushed vocals work so well with the rest of the instruments, the vocals themselves used as a instrument, softly complementing the gentle guitars and drums.

Trouble is The Runaway is a major hit-and-miss. Almost every song has a certain potential but is ruined somewhere, somehow and, if we were to be truthful, it’s hard to listen to them tops to bottom without pressing the next button. Trouble is The Magic Numbers did waste everyone’s time with releasing a whole album and not just an EP with the only album stand-outs. It would’ve allowed those songs to not get lost amongst bland pieces of music and helped more people discover them and their beauty.