MAKING MAGIC

In the forests of British musical opportunity, the Magic Numbers are easy to spot: they're like woodland creatures, untroubled and gregarious—not at all like the tense, skinny rockers who have lately been making noises. Formed from two sets of siblings, the Trinidad-born, New Yorkraised Stodarts and the London-reared Gannons, the band—inspired by 60s harmony groups like the Mamas and the Papas and the Lovin' Spoonful—has a flair for making a corny pop melody fresh again and for sounding optimistically brokenhearted. Hirsute singer and songwriter Romeo Stodart says the effect is deliberate: "I love songs that have a happy-sad element to them.... You can't really pinpoint what you're feeling, because you're feeling both emotions." The Magic Numbers next appear at New Zealand and Australia's Big Day Out festival, beginning January 20.

EDWARD HELMORE