Album Review: Bombay Bicycle Club

Bombay Bicycle Club: 'I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose' (Ume Imports)

1. Emergency Contraception Blues
2. Lamplight
3. Evening/Morning
4. Dust On The Ground
5. Ghost
6. Always Like This
7. Magnet
8. Cancel On Me
9. Autumn
10. The Hill
11. What If
12. The Giantess

Having initially come to the fore after winning the 2006 'Road To V' contest, Bombay Bicycle Club have been cautious ahead of their debut release 'I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose'.

Has it been worth the wait? The answer is a more than convincing 'yes'.

The North London four-piece boast an intriguing combination of wicked riffs, majestic melodies and vicious vocals which result in an 12 track album which will rank among the best 2009 has to offer. After a brief musical introduction with 'Emergency Contraception Blues', the album sets its stall with the no nonsense 'Lamplight'. Indeed, the early tracks are a pretty gritty affair altogether, albeit interrupted by some lovely rhythm changes and catchy riffs, where 'Evening/Morning' is a prime example - It might remind listeners of Editors or Arcade Fire.

'Ghost' is wonderfully and appropriately haunting and the calm before the stormy mid-set ups the tempo a little with some really contagious guitar-driven songs which grow on you with every listen - 'Magnet' and 'Cancel On Me', in particular.

The run-in is no turkey either. In particular, 'What If' hits you where it hurts and culminates a thoroughly excellent first effort.

North-LondonDog Millionaires? Who knows what the future has to offer 'Bombay Bicycle Club'. For now, the present is bright enough.

NME-E Rating: 8/10
Top Track: 'What If'



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