New Discoveries: What Remains of Bombay Bicycle Club? Lucy Rose, Toothless, and More.
- Nathan Kamphuis
- Sep 25, 2018
- 2 min read
I spent all of last night lamenting over the fact that Bombay Bicycle Club is on an extended hiatus. Their constant creation of great music has led them to be one of my favourite bands of all time. In my sorrows, I discovered two currently active connections to Bombay Bicycle Club that I hadn't already heard of. While I had already listened to Jack Steadman's solo project Mr. Jukes, I can't say I was a fan. His solo music is a very big stylistic departure from his music with Bombay Bicycle Club. But of course, if he wanted to keep making similar music, I suppose the band wouldn't be on hiatus. Anyways, before I get into the music, if you don't already understand the hype behind Bombay Bicycle Club, I present you with this beautiful live performance (skip to 46:25 if the video is not already there):
It's performances like this which make you fall in love with this band.
Now, let's dive into the music. First we have Toothless. The solo project of Bombay Bass player Ed Nash. It features a sound somewhat reminiscent of his roots in Bombay Bicycle Club. Although there are some noticeable differences in pace and creativity. It reverts back to mostly guitar and bass, with less of the dance/electronic vibe that is featured in later Bombay albums. My personal favourite from their 2017 debut album The Pace of Passing would have to be "Sisyphus". The fast constant pace and energetic vocals make for an exciting song. Although, songs like "Alright Alright Alright" have a dark vibe to them that reminds me of Bombay Bicycle Club's debut album. In an interview with NME, he said "No one really expects the bass player to do anything. I know I can play music and write songs. But I've got to put my money where my mouth is and step up.". It seems he's done just that, have a listen to "Sisyphus" below:
Next we have the lovely Lucy Rose. Lucy has been her own force in the music industry for many years, but people often forget or don't realize that she sang back up vocals on many Bombay Bicycle Club songs. Songs like "Lights Out, Words Gone" wouldn't have been the same without her. But what is she up to now?
Well, in 2017 she released her third studio album Something's Changing, supposedly inspired by her two month trip to Latin America. It was a mostly acoustic effort, but it featured a personal favourite of mine, "Strangest of Ways". Have a listen here (song starts at 1:00):
Lastly, I would be amiss if I didn't mention Jack Steadman's solo effort, Mr. Jukes. Although I'm not personally a fan of the approach taken on his first studio album God First, here's a sample so you can decide for yourself:
And that's it! What do you think, will we be seeing more of Bombay Bicycle Club in the future? Or will this "extended hiatus" end up lasting for life? Drop a comment below.
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