Subscribe
now to receive all the new
music
Atjazz Record Company releases,
including
72 back-catalog items,
delivered instantly to you via the Bandcamp app for iOS and Android.
Learn more.
Although his last release was some time ago, the next instalment from Magic Number is upon us, at last. Thankfully, the new album, ‘Badly Written Songs’, will make the long wait seem worthwhile as it lands through Atjazz Record Company.
Magic Number is Ross Hillard, a down-tempo and orchestral composer whose engineering and bass playing can be experienced throughout an array of releases. Amongst others, these feature Louie Vega, DJ Spen, Kerri Chandler, Lay-Far and Atjazz, the founder of the eponymously named label behind this release.
‘Badly Written Songs’ is, of course, a tongue-in-cheek title. It comprises a carefully structured and well-produced array of songwriting, topped and tailed with live instrumentation, commanding vocal performances and high-end production: the result of years of sound engineering and music production experience. Since the last album, Ross Hillard has continually honed his skills whilst earnestly crafting this sophomore long player. As well as developing a range of audio plugins, Ross also manages recording sessions at his own Paddocks Recording Studios: huge live spaces boast cutting-edge technology, integrated with distinguished analogue kit. The studio is complemented by a collection of prized microphones, together with a fully-restored vintage Raindirk mixing desk.
The opening track and first single from this album is the positively-anthemic gem entitled ‘Good Morning Sunshine’. It tells a forward-looking story promoting the merits of getting back into the driving seat of life. It’s propelled further by superb jazz-inspired drums and live horns that build up to an exhilarating crescendo. Featuring the vocal talents of Sophia Marshall, the story she paints is supported by a wonderful, darkly humorous cartoon video. An animated cadaver hilariously acts out her notions of positive living.
Other tracks also destined for a single release include: ‘Loving You’. It’s a song written around love lost. A bouncing house composition lays the foundations for Sophia Marshall's beautiful vocal that narrates the many facets to be found in loving another person. ‘Better’ again echoes jazz-inspired drums behind Sophia's vocals, drawing attention to how so many people are lost on their devices, missing out on the awesome world around them. A catchy chorus chants the notion behind this song, i.e., that you ‘could be better!’ This single is also supported by another fantastic video featuring the same comical, deceased character introduced through the ‘Good Morning Sunshine’ video.
On the album’s title, Ross explained: “The title is a tongue-in-cheek reference to how transient electronic music can be. Thus, writing songs in this genre might not have been the most sensible and sustainable idea”, he laughs. “But we all love house music, so we put everything into it, hoping that people don't discard it too soon. And if they do, we just have to remember that we undertook a great journey in producing it”, he concluded.
And so Magic Number’s non-stop musical work, in tandem with evolving jazz composition skills, brings us to this more sophisticated rebirth of Magic Number. ‘Badly Written Songs” is out now on Atjazz Record Company and available through all leading streaming and download sites.
credits
released February 9, 2024
Produced by mixed by Ross Hillard at The Paddocks
Vocals by Sophia Marshall
Mastered by Martin Iveson at ARCo. Labs
C&P 2023 Atjazz Record Company
Executive producers: Ross Hillard & Martin Iveson
1. Good Morning Sunshine
(Hillard)
Lyrics by Ross Hillard
Vocals by Sophia Marshall
Keyboards Bass and Double Bass by Ross Hillard
Additional Keyboards by Neil Hunter
Drums by Tom Wardle
Horns by Dominic Glover
Backing Vocals by Sarah Marshall and Ross Hillard
Mixed and Produced by Ross Hillard at The Paddocks Recording Studio
Published by Westbury Music Ltd
2. Better
(Hillard)
Lyrics by Ross Hillard
Vocals by Sophia Marshall
Keyboards by Ross Hillard
Additional Keyboards by Neil Hunter
Drums by Tom Wardle/ Ross Hillard
Bones by Dominic Glover
Strings and Add Horns by Ross Hillard
Backing Vocals by Sarah Marshall and Ross Hillard
Mixed and Produced by Ross Hillard at The Paddocks Recording Studio
Published by Westbury Music Ltd
3. Coming Back
(Hillard)
Lyrics by Ross Hillard
Vocals by Angela Armstrong
Keyboards by Ross Hillard
Mixed and Produced by Ross Hillard at The Paddocks Recording Studio
Published by Westbury Music Ltd
Love you always mum xxx
4. SFS
(Hillard)
Lyrics by Ross Hillard
Vocals by Angela Armstrong
Keyboards and all additional Instruments by Ross Hillard
Horns by Dominic Glover
Mixed and Produced by Ross Hillard at ARCo Labs and The Paddocks Recording Studio
Published by Westbury Music Ltd
5. Loving You
(Hillard)
Lyrics by Ross Hillard
Vocals by Sophia Marshall
Keyboards by Ross Hillard
Additional Keyboards by Neil Hunter
Backing Vocals Sophia Marshall and Sarah Marshall
Mixed and Produced by Ross Hillard at The Paddocks Recording Studio
Published by Westbury Music Ltd
6. Was This Love
(Hillard)
Lyrics by Ross Hillard
Vocals by Sophia Marshall
Keyboards and Bass by Ross Hillard
Backing Vocals Sophia Marshall
Mixed and Produced by Ross Hillard at The Paddocks Recording Studio
Published by Westbury Music Ltd
7. ALL I Ever Wanted
(Hillard)
Lyrics by Ross Hillard
Vocals by Sophia Marshall
Keyboards and Bass by Ross Hillard
Additional Keyboards by Martin Iveson
Backing Vocals Sophia Marshall
Mixed and Produced by Ross Hillard at ARCo Labs and The Paddocks Recording Studio
Published by Westbury Music Ltd
8. Thinkin’ Bout Feat. Clyde
(Hillard)
Lyrics by Ross Hillard
Vocals by Clyde
Keyboards by Ross Hillard
Double Bass Andy Tytherlee
Additional Keyboards by Martin Iveson
Backing Vocals Sophia Marshall, Ross Hillard and Martin Iveson
Mixed and Produced by Ross Hillard at ARCo Labs and The Paddocks Recording Studio
Published by Westbury Music Ltd
9. Exit
(Hillard)
Lyrics by Ross Hillard
Vocals by Sophia Marshall
Keyboards Neil Hunter and Andy Robertson
Additional Keyboards and synths by Martin Iveson
Backing Vocals Sophia Marshall
Mixed and Produced by Ross Hillard at The Paddocks Recording Studio
Published by Westbury Music Ltd
Known to many as a Bass Player, to others as a Downtempo Producer and to increasingly more as an Orchestral Composer, Ross Hillard is a Leicestershire, UK native. He releases music under the alias of Magic Number.
