I've been wanting to talk about the music I love for a long time, so what better place to start than BBC's newest offering?
But before that, a small amount of context. I started listening to Bombay Bicycle Club around mid 2010, a point in my life at which I was only just getting into music, and past the stuff that defined my younger years (I am really late to the musical party).
A year later I would be lying in my tent at Leeds festival on the day that A Different Kind Of Fix released. I remember the first time I hit play, and the incredible sound that followed. I was completely mesmerised by the sheer beauty that had been crafted into the album. To this day it's one of my favourites. It's so well written and produced, so well presented. ADKOF has a definite 'idea' to it, it's opulent and graceful, bright, optimistic and weightless. Not to mention the emotions that run through tracks like bad timing (the guitar in which sounds like that horrible, awkward feeling you get in your gut - in the best way possible).
So here I am, 2-and-a-bit years later, listening to 'So Long, See You Tomorrow'. Immediately in 'Overdone', the high pitched strings have grabbed my head and swung me round like a child and the guitar feels like fresh sun on my face. I'm back in that blissful summer.
'It's Alright Now' isn't amazing, but sonically it is still quite lovely. One of the things I love about BBC is that their drums are completely on point, and there is no exception here.
'Carry Me' is such a weird, striking track. Exactly what I was expecting. Messed up vocal samples and a definite vibe of Kele's 'The Boxer' to it. The main melody is completely unforgettable.
'Home By Now' has some amazing piano sample use, that works so well with the overall beat of the song it could well be one of the best tracks on the album.
The only other things I really want to mention about SLSYT are:
The drums in 'Eyes Off You'
How amazing 'Feel' is, some serious synth genius going on in there
All in all, I really like it. It isn't as important to me as 'A Different Kind Of Fix' was, but thats entirely down to timing. It's a wonderful record, and I will be getting to know it better over the next few months. I don't believe you can quantify the value of music, so number scores can fuck off. This album gets a definite 'yes' from me.
See you next time,
Matt.