Sunday 21/10/07 The Magic Numbers, Horsebox @ Nasa, Reykjavik, Iceland

Two albums into their career and The Magic Numbers aren’t exactly achieving the commercial success they threatened when they first broke onto the scene. Second long-player ‘Those The Brokes’ has been largely panned by critics and ignored by the record buying public. Yet, despite this, they’ve consistently just about cut it on the live stage, and tonight’s gig, the second instalment of the Coke Music Discovery Sessions, is definitely no exception. Coupled with the fact that we (a group of lucky journalists and competition winners) have been flown over especially to the windswept and beguiling Icelandic capital Reykjavik too, it all adds extra gravitas to the occasion.

Part Icelandic/part Brit act Horsebox, who were personally picked by the Numbers, start proceedings. Jangly feel-good indie-pop, imbued with cheeky mock-cockney words and even the odd flutter of Grandaddy-esque keyboards, it’s a nice start to the night’s proceedings. But, it’s only when a grinning Romeo Stoddart and co. step onto the stage and launch into the charming ‘This Is A Song’ that you almost forget about the hideously overpriced drinks that are sadly synonymous with this country.  Rattling through a succession of some of their biggest hits – ‘Take A Chance’, ‘Forever Lost’, ‘Love’s A Game’ and ‘I See You, You See Me’ – it’s an onslaught of sugar coated melodies and has the predominantly Icelandic crowd beaming.

Sadly for The Magic Numbers their main flaw is that they don’t really have enough variety in their sound and, as a result, unless they deliver a hit song, the set starts to sag. The likes of ‘Fear Of Sleep’, ‘Runnin Out’ and ‘Slow Down’ are pleasant enough and are all delivered with plenty of fervour from the band, but we need a bit more than this to keep us wry hacks engaged. Speaking to Gigwise before the show, band keyboardist and vocalist Angella Gannon told us that they’re thinking of evolving for their third album – something you soon think would be a very wise move.

Thankfully, despite the dip mid-way through the set, things pick up towards the end with some more impressive numbers from their arsenal like the ever twee ‘Love Me Love You.’ Also, the band’s constant enthusiasm and contentment is not only baffling, it soon becomes contagious, slowly eroding away any gripes we have. By the time they bow out with ‘The Beard’, the whole room is infected with their warmth. Something I for one need, contemplating the bleak Icelandic night we’re heading out into. A few shots of the local, liquorice tipple is definitely needed.

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