In the music industry, an artist’s background and character directly influences the style of music that they produce. Bombay Bicycle Club has returned with their familiar upbeat, summery feel, but there is some deviation in their style. The group acquires a more tribal, exotic tone in their newly released album So Long, See You Tomorrow, as lead singer Jack Steadman drew inspiration from his month spent in Mumbai.
The Indian influence gives an edge to the synthesizers and electronic sounds which flood the ears of listeners. Steadman’s airy vocals compliment the electronic beat of tracks such as “Carry Me” and “Feel”. On the track “Luna”, Steadman is accompanied by the complementary females vocal of Lucy Rose, who also worked with the band on their third album. The band adds an ethnic twist to the typical pop-like realm of the Indie genre, and draws in a broader spectrum of fans who typically would not be inclined to enjoy bands such as Bombay Bicycle Club.
Not only does So Long, See You Tomorrow stand out from the previous albums with a newly cultured tone, but it presents a softer side to counteract the bombardment of electronic beats on a majority of the tracks. In “Eyes Off You”, Steadman sings melancholy lyrics about an unrequited love—because no singer can resist incorporating their sappiest love stories into their music. “Whenever, Wherever” embodies the musical contrast of Bombay Bicycle Club in a single track, with constant variations in tempo and tone. On the other hand, “Come To” contrasts the band’s growth in style, as it shows similarity to the pop-like style of their previous albums.
Newly cultured, Bombay Bicycle Club maintains their simplistic, electronic beat, while integrating the colorful sounds of foreign cultures. So Long, See You Tomorrow’s broadened musical variety gives it an edge in comparison to releases from other Indie artists such as Foster the People or Broken Bells. The band’s diversified background expands their musicality and fan base, allowing their latest album to be a step above the rest.
