Album Review: Bombay Bicycle Club – ‘So Long, See You Tomorrow’

With Indie-Pop record ‘So Long, See You Tomorrow’, it isn’t hard to see why Bombay Bicycle club achieved their first Number One album. With their fourth album, the stereotyped middle-class musical four-piece have certainly crossed into the mainstream with their upbeat and feel good tracks. But Bombay have certainly not ditched their original and creative Indie vibrancy in doing so.

The album’s single releases, including the dreamy and soothing ‘Luna,’ which saw lead Jack Steadman joined by rising talent and beautifully voiced, Rae Morris – which definitely helped contribute to ‘So Long, See You Tomorrow’s’ rise to the top. The November release ‘Carry Me,’ certainly caused a stir of anticipation for the whole ten-track works, with its dip into the realm of Dance and interactive video. December’s ‘It’s Alright Now’ with Steadman’s lulling vocals at its best, whispered seductively to fans, with the New Year and the album’s unveiling just around the corner.

‘Overdone’ the album’s opener, welcomes the listener in with looped electronic sounds and a dashing beat. Its vocals move stirringly as we are whirled into one hell of a successful album. ‘Tell me was it enough when we were first in love?’ sings Jack Steadman – the frontman’s emotive songwriting still on point four albums later.

‘Feel’ sees Bombay Bicycle Club at their most dance worthy, as vocals praise a “Disco feeling, disco feeling!” with a sound not to dissimilar to Friendly Fires, with the use of a cowbell and funky drums. The title track ends the works with a contrasting lullaby of soothing vocals.

Bombay Bicycle Club have always stepped bravely into new waters with each album, always happy to experiment with new sounds. From debut ‘I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose’s’ straight Indie Rock approach, to Flaws’ Folk attempts, the group have always given their fans an element of surprise. With So Long See You Tomorrow they achieve this once again, messing with electronics and making danceable feel-good Indie. Is this sound here to stay, or have BBC still got new lands to conquer? Only time will tell, but for now we are more than happy to bop and sweetly sing along to their latest creative release.