Bombay Bicycle Club "A Different Kind Of Fix"

This is the third of the trilogy of new bands I decided to buy in my effort to locate the "next big thing." The first two, Veronica Falls and The War On Drugs, were satisfying on different levels, but neither were "it."  Bombay Bicycle Club aren't "it" either, but certainly much closer.  To be honest, I chose Veronica Falls and BBC because they received the stamp of approval from fellow WPRK DJ of days-gone-by-that-happened-at-a-previous-time-historically-speaking-of-course, Gene Pembleton, who does "two hours of pure unadulterated UK musique called 'The British Breakfast' on WRIR 97.3FM--Richmond, VA Independent Radio."  For ye like me, a lover of British tunes, there is a podcast schedule available here. 

I was a little confused on my first listen, but it became clearer  on the second.  It's another addition to the many that seem to be based in 80's New Wave.  I kept finding myself elevating the volume on subsequent spins, hoping to capture the one band that was buried in my brain under three decades of music that kept trying to peek out.  My first recommendation would be to fans of The Editors, as BBC has a similar musical structure, but a more danceable, happy tone.  Still couldn't get that Eighties band to surface...is it Spandau Ballet?  Nah, that's not it.  Thompson Twins?  Yeah, that's in there a few spots, but still not the little nagging sound in my cobwebbed mind.  Ooh, one of my favorite tracks held a Hunters & Collectors ring to it, and that's always a good omen for me.  I still, however, couldn't peel back the layers to reveal the mystery band that was haunting me.  Here, try this one and tell me what you hear...



A-ha!  No, that's not the band I was thinking of, it was OMD.  Their pop heyday sound is an underlying influence through much of "...Fix", but it's not overt. 

I've since found out that BBC is a very young group, barely in their 20's, from the London area and "...Fix" is already their third full-length release.  Apparently, the second went Top 10 in the UK and now "...Fix" has eclipsed that chart position and landed on several other European charts as well.  Why the hell haven't I heard of them before?  And there you have the beauty of discovery, even for my age demographic.  For you younger whipper-snappers, I've seen BBC recommended to fans of Vampire Weekend.

Can't call it "indie" in my book since they are on a major label, but "alternative" will suffice.  "...Fix" is worth the $8, and I will keep an ear out for BBC in the future.