The Magic Numbers - Take a Chance

The problem with The Magic Numbers is that their archetypal brand of sound, regardless of the lyrics, is very uniform. And, with Take A Chance as a prime example, whether the subject matter be melancholy, melodrama or mirth, the melody never veers from the upbeat, poppy rhythms we have come to associate with this group. If anything, their music is, paradoxically, too consistent. There is minimal distinction between one single and the next.

Having said that, the same jingles are what have landed The Magic Numbers where they are today, and this song is just as addictively listenable as previous hit Love me Like You. Smooth vocal, tranquil backing song and a finger-drumming guitar pulse glides through your senses without tugging too hard on any heart-strings or nerve-endings. More like a stroll in the park than a hike in the hills, but satisfying nonetheless. [Richard Orr]