Album Review: The Magic Numbers - The Runaway

The Magic Numbers - The Runaway **Heavenly, £13.99

Who took the pep out of The Magic Numbers' step? The jolly finger-popping brother/sister act who emerged in 2005 sprinkling sunny harmonies all over sharp, jaunty tunes has all but evaporated on their pensive third album.

The dynamics are muted, the harmonies sound that little bit more perfunctory and too many of the songs end up sounding weedy rather than wistful. The Runaway walks a fine line between pleasant MOR listening and inoffensive blandness – only the gently seductive reverie of Restless River stands out.