For a young band to radically change their sound from one album to the next can often be a bad sign, especially in regard to their future. It suggests a fundamental difference within the band about what kind of music they should be making. Think of Panic! At the Disco’s change from the angst-ridden teen emo of A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out to their 60’s pop-inspired sophomore effort Pretty Odd complete with Beatles-esque melodies and hair. They split soon afterwards.
Bombay Bicycle Club underwent a similarly momentous shift from their 2009 post-punk inspired debut, I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose, to their second album Flaws, essentially an acoustic folk album. However, upon hearing A Different Kind of Fix, Bombay’s third album, the change in genre makes sense. The electric guitars and the major keys are back but the lush sound of Flaws along with its more mature song structures and frontman Jack Steadman’s soulful folk-developed delivery remain. The result is impressive and the ease with which Bombay Bicycle Club have managed to change their style betrays their extensive musical talents. A Different Kind of Fix is incredibly consistent throughout, and its line-up consists of beautifully melodic songs. Stand-out tracks include album opener ‘How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep’ and the brilliantly infectious and hook-filled first single, ‘Shuffle’, which will undoubtedly have the listener producing a few outrageously dancey shoulder movements whilst mumbling along in an attempt to harness the energy, if not the sense, of the chorus.
The album also exhibits a far denser layering of sound than was present on their previous records with more sophisticated studio techniques being employed. This strengthens the moodier songs, such as ‘Bad Timing’ and ‘What You Want’, by creating the kind of enveloping and atmospheric tone similar to artists such as Wild Beasts, as well as using keyboards and synthesizers to infuse the more upbeat tracks with urgency. There is a nod to Flaws during the simple acoustic verses of ‘Beggars’ but A Different Kind Of Fix sees Bombay Bicycle Club move towards a bigger sound that will surely spark renewed interest in their output.
