By Kelc Galluzzo
Before listening to Bombay Bicycle Club’s new album, be prepared to throw away any and all expectations you might have if you have listened to their previous albums. The title of the opening track “Overdone” ironically foreshadows the overall sound of the album. Taking a step back from their previous melodic works with catchy bass lines and memorable lyrics, a new synth-pop sound emerged. Whether or not this development is a good move for Bombay Bicycle Club is debatable. They have already broadcasted their ability to tackle multiple sounds, releasing a full length acoustic album Flaws (2010) as well as two full band full lengths, I Had the Blues but I Shook them Loose (2009) and A Different Kind of Fix (2011), displaying their knack for feel good tunes with musical integrity.
It breaks my once swooning heart to say that start to finish on So Long, See You Tomorrow nothing particularly sticks out because most of the ambient accents added behind any notable riff or melody distracts the listener. Easily forgotten songs make it hard to call this album a must have. Not all is bad throughout each track though. Infusing synth and drum tones reminiscent of 90’s dance music is becoming more and more popular in indie sub genres, but Bombay sets themselves aside from the rest by contrasting that sound with remarkably rich, deep vocals. That being said, I cannot fathom why the majority of the album was mixed with vocals so compressed while simultaneously maxed out with reverb. Vocalist Jack Steadman has such a unique and recollective voice that masking it that does a major disservice to his talent.
The three year gap Bombay Bicycle Club took between releases leaves the last hope of them revisiting their old sound to dwindle. I’m sure this album will undoubtedly bring in a new fan base that may be what they need to take them to the next step. Regardless, I will be looking forward to what they do next.
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