The Longest Ever Dream

The Sound of Arrows “M.A.G.I.C.”

If you need a warning, here you go: “M.A.G.I.C.” is an extremely Pollyanna-ish pop song, and really, the sort of thing you should never hear on a bad day. The arrangement twinkles like a sequin suit in a room full of mirror balls, its groove is so shamelessly Swedish that it may as well be Ace of Base, and the chorus is sung by a choir of children. It’s a bit too much, but somehow, there’s some sense of restraint. It’s not all giddiness and rainbows — the lead vocalist sounds measured and calm, and upon closer inspection, it’s clear that he’s singing about trying to be open to the wonders of the world, which implies the understanding that those things can easily be drowned out by the horrors. It’s a tremendously optimistic song, but its outsize perkiness feels lived-in, earned, and surprisingly pragmatic.

Buy it from Labrador.