Clean Bandit – New Eyes

Mixing classical instruments and melodies with electro and dance music is a risky venture, but four-piece band Clean Bandit seem to have it down to an art. The band include bass guitar, keyboards, cello, drums and violin in their instrumental repertoire, giving the vocals up to guest artists on each song – a musical recipe that seems to work well for every new track on their debut album New Eyes.

Clean Bandit have been making music for years, first coming to recognition with the release of A+E in 2012, but they smashed their way into real popularity and the top of the charts with the single Rather Be two years later in January 2014. Ever since then they’ve been hot property, and this highly anticipated album does not disappoint.

The way in which the band varies their guest vocalists give New Eyes a fresh sound – it keeps you constantly interested while listening. The downfall of any record can often come from tracks sounding too similar, but having such an interesting range of voices on one record is what sets this album apart from its competitors. Title track New Eyes features both singing and rapping, while Birch’s vocalist Eliza Shaddad introduces a much more ethereal sound. Each guest artist brings something completely new to their track, with the musical skill of the Clean Bandit members working beautifully with the vocalists and each other to turn the individual songs into a solid collection.

The most recent single Extraordinary with Sharna Bassis is definitely a standout track, but Up Again and Telephone Banking are also both memorable. New Eyes is a strong record that amplifies what we already know about Clean Bandit – they make a tantalising blend of classical and dance music, intertwined with new, varied and talented vocalists.

Amy McLelland

New Eyes was released on 2^nd June 2014. For further information or to order the album visit Clean Bandit’s website here.

Watch the video for Extraordinary here: