The music of new indie bands tends to be labelled with one of two adjectives: jagged or soaring. Since the latter term is often associated with veganism and incontinence, Bombay Bicycle Club are probably pleased that their debut album plants them amongst the thornier vegetation. Here, alongside serrated guitar sounds, we find spiky vocals that are likely to divide listeners, and a jerking rhythm section. The strongest moments are the singles ‘Magnet’ and ‘Always Like This’, which builds from a vocal hook and funky bassline into a chorus that balances drive with delicacy in a manner reminiscent of Bloc Party. But several other tracks are unremarkable, and towards the end the album becomes a bit samey and gamble on anomalous conclusions. Bombay Bicycle Club (somehow, the acronym BBC doesn’t seem appropriate) are not without promise, but the mood that permeates this album is too mellow to justify the jaggedness of the music. Like a Club Sandwich there are various layers to digest, and like Bombay Mix there is a satisfying spiced kick; but, unlike these snacks, the different flavours here don’t quite gel together.
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AlanAshtonSmith is from Liverpool and now lives in London, across the street from Johnny Rotten’s childhood home. He writes voraciously about all manner of cultural commodities, though much of his time is currently taken up with a project on Gypsy Punk.
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