The Runaway

Brother'n'sister indie folk return with third album.

It’s been five years since The Magic Numbers were flavour of the month and saw their debut album nominated for a Mercury Award. These days they could barely be less hip - partially that’s down to the fact that numerous newer bands have successfully deployed similar folk rock influences - but on this evidence they could rise again.

A wonderfully arranged album, The Runaway longs for the days of vinyl with its warm production, while its sweet boy-girl harmonies and innocence seem to belong in an era when denim safari suits were the height of sartorial sophistication. Opener The Pulse comes close to achieving an odd synergy of MOR and ambient electronica, but throughout, especially on the fabulous Hurt So Good and Why Did You Call, Angela Gannon’s dreamy vocals and the band's fabulous groove evoke hippy supergroup Fleetwood Mac.

For all its style, The Runaway lacks the big tunes that made their debut such a hit, but connoisseurs of early 70s soft rock will be in kaftan heaven.

Album Review by Johnny Dee