The Magic Numbers

It was a bitterly brisk evening outside the Corner Hotel, and at the strike of eight, things looked ominous for the evening ahead. As doors opened, only a handful of eager fans braving the cold entered, as the venue remained unusually bare. Was this to be the fate for The Magic Numbers’ return to Melbourne? Fortunately a crowd had steadily built by the time first band were to grace the stage in support of the UK indie-pop quartet.

When referring to the Blue Mountains’ own Cloud Control, the only difficulty is in finding the right words through which to praise them. Their opening track, Meditation Song #2 in all it’s repeated chants shone with pitch-perfect harmonies, the voices of Alister Wright and Heidi Lenffer soaring powerfully across the Corner Hotel. The pair combine so well and so naturally that they become symbolic of the band itself. Anyone remotely acquainted with their studio work, particularly their fantastic debut album, will understand how well the band effortlessly surpass what they’ve committed to store shelves. There’s Nothing In The Water That We Can’t Fight was one such highlight, an epic, pulsating gem performed to precision. Cloud Control have astounding cohesion that really is both entertaining and engaging, their inventive, adventurous compositions delivered superbly. The joyous single This Is What I Said followed, along with the mellow Beast Of Love, Lenferr’s enchanting presence leading the way. A brief kick-drum failure hurt the band’s momentum, but they quickly recovered with an acapella introduction to a spirited rendition of Death Cloud.

By the end of their set, the crowd had well and truly embraced Cloud Control. Wright understood as much and thanked the Corner Hotel for their support. He did, however, stop short of an announcement, advised to keep things under wraps. It was a curious turn of events, and it’s still uncertain what information this may have been. Although, funnily enough, the secret sat alongside something that had become so obvious by the time Cloud Control had left the stage : if you want the best our live music scene has to offer, then you needn’t look much further. A remarkable showing, highly recommended.

An orchestral overture provided a gentle cue for The Magic Numbers to stand before the Corner crowd, which had increased considerably. It was a warm welcome from a supportive fanbase, as the UK outfit opened with Sound Of Something and Dreams Of A Revelation, songs from their latest record The Runaway. Their set, though only initially, was marred by technical faults, an ear-piercing crackle emitted from the speakers that remained a problem even by their third song. Fortunately the problem was fixed, and The Magic Numbers were able to get things back on track. It was to be their only real slip, the band at their tight best the night-long.

Just try and hate this band. They have this pleasant pop sensibility down to a science, revelling in a simple yet effective approach to their craft. If you characterise Cloud Control as folk-pop, at one end of the spectrum, then The Magic Numbers would clearly be at the opposite end. The band also displayed a keenness to hold a rapport with their audience, which inevitably came into effect during Hurt So Good: the room was divided into two as the Corner turned into one giant choir, bolstering the band’s ensemble magnificently with a real communal feel. Forever Lost, a clear favorite, was amongst their best songs that again saw the crowd in fine voice. In fact, much of the material from their debut - namely Love’s A Game and I See You, You See Me - greatly added to the resounding success of their show, as The Magic Numbers continued to depict themselves as a good-natured bunch, even in their darker moments. It’s no wonder they’re renowned for their sunny, pop-rock tact seen in their sheer fun and optimism.

Sure, The Magic Numbers aren’t a particularly imposing group, but that’s fine too, especially given their immense ability to perform to their peak. All in all, they played the part of a feel-good force to cap off a feel-good evening, and you can’t ask for much more than that.

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