Top Ten Albums of 2020 - 9. The Magic Gang - Death of the Party

Coming in at number nine on our best albums of 2020 countdown, The Magic Gang showcase experimentation, storytelling and... trumpets.

Brighton four-piece The Magic Gang formed in 2013 and released debut single 'Alright' in 2015. The track set the basis for what was to come. The Magic Gang quickly established themselves as one of the UK's most up and coming guitar bands with catchy hooks and sing along indie choruses.

Earning backing from the likes of BBC Radio One and heading out on nationwide tours with Sundara Karma and Wolf Alice, their debut album came in 2018 and was received with acclaim across the board, landing inside the UK Top 40 Album Chart.

Therefore, although the band may not have felt it, there was some pressure on what was to come next.

The lads did not disappoint. Death of the Party is a big turn from the classic indie rock that was seen in their debut, but the ambition is rewarded in the end result.

With five disparate singles released prior to the album, and an Arthur theme song cover squeezed in between, Magic Gang demonstrated their complete range of song writing capabilities. From punk new wave-esque 'What Have You Got To Lose' to the disco fuelled 'Take Back the Track,' which stories asking the DJ to play the same tune again on a night out, Magic Gang have grown into more than just the alt rock band we saw on their self-titled debut.

There are piano driven tracks such as 'I am Sunshine' and the use of strings in the melancholic 'Make A Sound' which further demonstrate an attempt to expand their sound to broader range.

In the past the band have noted the likes of Weezer and The Beach Boys as influence, but this record hails Northern Soul and Motown, adding to the complexity of the record.

Death of the Party clearly pushes the boundaries of what genre critics are keen to pin The Magic Gang into. However, undoubtedly the ambition and creativity must be praised.

With their latest album bringing a somewhat unexpected spin on the sound of their debut, fans will be desperate to hear new music from the boys as soon as possible. They didn't have to wait long with single 'Somebody Like You', described as a 'friendship song', released October 23.

Follow The Magic Gang on Twitter and Instagram and buy the album through their website.

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