Once again I find myself idle so I'm returning to write my much anticipated second album review. *cue applause* *awkward silence*
Moving along swiftly, I decided to review my favourite album of the past year. Safe to say this album is a huge pick me up for me. No matter what the situation, it seems to be the answer. I remember my first encounter with Bombay Bicycle Club very clearly. The year was 2010, my first festival, my first camping trip, my first experience of a weekend entirely filled with good music, good people and an overconsumption of cider and vodka. I had never heard of BBC but a crowd were heading to the gig so I tagged along. Rule No.1 of music festivals, never write off those unknown bands in the small tents dotted around the arena, away from the main stage, they may surprise you. On a very rainy Saturday, day 2 of our 3 day binge on music and drink, a gang of us arrived at a small tent where a lot of, what can only be described as noise, was issuing from the stage. We caught the last few songs as far as I remember and luckily for me 'Always like this' was among them. This song stuck with me. When I resurfaced a week later after the festival, after experiencing the horrors like never before and sitting in a shower for possibly 3 hours I knew it was the first of many to come. Its safe to say this song soon became one of my most played in the months after. I never looked into the band that much apart from this song because they were so new and unknown that their stuff was kind of new territory for me. Therefore I cant claim to have been a superfan from the word go. However when the opportunity arose to see them again all these years later, the memories came back of being in that small tent hearing this band with the weird name and the one good song. So, this year when the Electric Picnic line-up was released, the first name that jumped out was 'Bombay Bicycle Club'. I started listening to the album immediatley. I would listen to it in its entirety before going to bed. Not really paying attention to the track numbers or even lyrics. I began to notice some catchy riffs and climactic parts to the album. But rather than listening to their new stuff by picking out tracks one by one, for the first time ever, I listened to an album as a complete piece of work, which as it turns out, is the best way to appreciate a band's music. Then you can begin to hone in on particular tracks that stand out to you. Again, strangely enough id didn't find myself skipping songs as I usually do, no track really stood out on its own, except for maybe Luna which had already become popular on the airwaves. But in general, every song was satisfying to listen to and just as captivating as the previous. The songs sort of fit together as if part of an underlying theme that pervaded the entire album. Of course now months later I can recognise the songs which are festival anthems, the ones that are slow and refined and the ones that make you dance. The anticipation for their performance at EP was immense, having listened to this album for weeks in advance, I wondered if it would match up with the live performance. After a rainy Friday, the heavens finally opened on Saturday and after warming up with Hozier, the time arrived for BBC'S Main stage appearance. As soon as 'Its Alright Now' kicked in, wondering whether the songs would make the same impact live was not in my mind any more. Every song was made to feel like an anthem and every song felt so familiar like I had known them for years. The set flew but I remember that hour as being the happiest I had been all weekend and the most content I had felt in a while. The crowd were so at ease listening to them, no pushing to get closer, everyone was happy to sway and dance along at their ease. Of course there are going to be highlights from the set, Carry Me, developed into a chant that the crowd willingly repeated at Jack Steadman's will. Nothing better than a bit of call and response to engage the crowd! Feel, Luna and Whenever Wherever are other obvious choices but with Liz Lawrence in toe, Home By Now was a personal favourite. In contrast to my first BBC gig its hard to believe they're the same band. That potential that was palpable in 'Always like this' has been developed to no end to produce this compilation. On listening now, it takes me back to that blissful, sunny afternoon in my favourite place in the world, which if you know me at all will know, is a music festival, my happy place. If you get the chance to experience them live, don't hesitate, thank me for it later.
Disclaimer: I realise this is not so much an album review as an appreciation of a band who in my view have really grown to become a main stage attraction and audience favourite at festivals.
