Release Date: Mar 16, 2018
Genre(s): Pop/Rock
Record label: Warner Bros.
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From their first proper single "No Fun', it was clear they had something quite special. It was Weezer at their most laid back; built for sunny days in the park with a couple of cans. From then on, the more singles the Brighton foursome released, the easier it was to fall in love with them. Boisterous and playful, with pop hooks that were likely to get stuck in your head for days, they had introduced themselves as a band loaded with festival-ready anthems.
The Magic Gang have an insatiable thirst for music. In their time off from band duties, they've produced tracks for fellow Brighton groups (and friends) Abattoir Blues, Sulky Boy, and Manuka Honeys. Take one look at their Twitter pages, meanwhile, and you'll find a trove of tunes to dig into by up-and-comers or older, more obscure acts. That appetite has undoubtedly had some bearing on the four-piece's phenomenal songwriting abilities, even if you can't explicitly hear everything they enthuse over online in their own music.
Much-discussed Brighton band The Magic Gang release their first album to the most anticipation we've seen around a debut for a while, which is remarkable considering the supposed lack of interest in guitar bands in the industry currently. The self-titled The Magic Gang runs at 12 tracks, with the four-piece group selecting carefully from their raft of early-career fan favourites and their newer, different sounding music. With a large bank of songs from the past few years, listeners can expect the cream of the crop; a kind of early greatest hits from the band whose first LP has been in the works for some time.
The Magic Gang's highly anticipated debut follows those charming EPs, and those helplessly endearing live shows across the land. Taking their time, the hopeless romantics have shaped and perfected their musical signature before venturing into the album format. Following a string of releases, the Magic Gang manifesto takes their distinct 60s sunshine sound to new, refined, heights.
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