The Magic Numbers - Alias

Unfortunately, Alias begins with its dreariest track, “Wake Up”. The bass is delicious, but the vocals decidedly less so, resulting in a song that doesn’t set a good precedent for the rest of the release. Thankfully, the record instantly redeems itself with “You K(no)w”; here the melodies tickle, and its segmented structure displays some very moving sequences.

Indeed, Alias is certainly not without its strengths. First single “Shot In The Dark” exhibits their effortless ability to create heart-warming interplay between melody and harmony, and is fueled by existential reflection: “Well I suppose that life’s just a short in the dark, from the moment we arrive we’re just playing a part/and that longing never dies, it’s there from the start/you don’t know the reason why but it tears you apart”. It’s very BBC Radio 2-friendly, but being honest, The Magic Numbers always were.

Other peaks include “Thought I Wasn’t Ready”, with its sleek strings and croons from Angela Gannon (it’s three minutes of pure love-ballad classiness) and “E.N.D”, which instantly takes us to the flares and platform shoes disco-era. It’s probably the most fun moment of the album - it is very 70s, but is well balanced by a splendid melancholic hook of “I never want it to end”.

Things trough a little after this though, with tracks like “Accidental Song” and “Enough” sounding particularly nondescript, although admittedly the ending of the latter spruces up when the rest of the band jam out with the dark bass-line that guides the tune.

Alias is by no means a bad album - on the contrary, it highlights the maturity and progression of four highly talented and much loved British musicians - but it’s just not that fun. It will appeal to many, but probably not those who, like me, entered their formative years with the sweet sounds of “Forever Lost” and “Love Me Like You Do”. Ah, all those years gone by. ​