On their third EP offering, The Magic Gang display finely tuned pop sensibilities across four hook-packed cuts. In the two years since the release of The Magic Gang EP, the Brighton-based four piece have been on a rapid ascent, culminating in signing to Felix White’s (The Maccabees) Yala! Records in late 2016 and being chosen for Apple Music’s ‘New Artists 2017’.

EP Three is also the first release for Yala!, recorded in London with Hugo White (The Maccabees) at The Jesus & Mary Chain’s former studio The Drugstore, and finds The Magic Gang delivering on the promise of being ones to watch. Highly melodic and intelligently structured, there is a refreshing nature to band’s pop-oriented approach. Short and sweet, all four tracks barely broach the three minute mark.

First track ‘Hotel Apathy’ is masterful guitar-pop that continues in the vein of the band’s earlier material. Introduced by a glorious riff that appears throughout, the verses are built with glittering chords, and the song climaxes in an infectious chorus vocal. ‘How Can I Compete’, chosen as the lead single, is all bouncing melodies and lovelorn longing. Harkening to a classic pop-Englishness, the song articulates the influence of nearly half a century of well-rounded and thoughtful songwriting, from The Kinks to Blur. In this sense, ’No One Else’ is the band adopting a classic 60s pop group mould. Early Beatles-esque in its arrangement, even the vocal stylings seem to allude to the Fab Four style of song crafting. ‘Life Without You’, too, echoes a slower sombre cut from the Beatles’ ‘Red’ period.

Another fantastic set of songs from the Brighton band, EP Three demonstrates a consistency in The Magic Gang’s creation of highly stylistic guitar-pop. Frontman Jack Kaye has already hinted at the “piecing together” of the band’s first full length album and they tour the UK tour through April and May.