Artist: The Magic Numbers Album : The Magic Numbers (Heavenly)

The Magic Numbers is two pairs of brothers and sisters from London that started their own small revolution earlier this year.

Barely known outside the London indie music scene, the band shot to fame when they were nominated for Mercury Music Prize 2005 along with bigger acts like Coldplay, Kaiser Chiefs and Bloc Party. The Magic Numbers and all other nominees finally lost to a lesser-known act, the New York-based Antony and the Johnsons.

Recognition from the Mercury Music Prize seemed to confirm the hype that has surrounded the band for a long time. However, the jury at the Mercury award was only half right.

Only side one of the debut album shines, consisting of flawless tunes built from jangling guitar and melodic bass adorned with oooh-ahhh backing vocals.

The album's side two is a complete letdown with the band cramming mostly slow songs into a 20-minute song cycle.

Side one alone is worth your money, though. -- M. Taufiqurrahman