There was a lot of dissolution after Bombay Bicycle Club announced their hiatus last year. The foursome, who have consistently released chart-topping albums since their formation in 2005, sent a loyal following into grieving with an ambiguous announcement that they were taking an indefinite break: “we aren't working on new music and don't have plans to do so any time soon". On the surface, this may have looked like the end of Bombay Bicycle Club for a while, however bassist Ed Nash’s solo project Toothless satisfies that Bombay Bicycle Club craving we’re all having. His debut album The Pace of Passing is just as innovative as it is familiar, and is the perfect record for those looking to fill the Bombay Bicycle Club hole in their lives.

Nash, as a solo musician, is wildly creative and exceptionally talented. He unifies acoustic and electronic harmonies joyously throughout the record. It bursts into life with its opening track ‘Charon’, quickly establishing Nash’s unique and whispering vocals. Nash’s vocal tone is something that makes all of his releases unique as well as intriguingly dreamy. They have the ability to sink deep into the throbbing basslines as if his voice was an instrument itself. Charon is a beautiful example of this, it is melancholic and vocal-heavy, and harmonies layer themselves on top of each other to make up the bulk of the track. It is surprisingly gentle while maintaining an element of quirkiness which will undoubtedly make Nash a talking point on the indie music scene this year.

However, Nash proves he isn’t just a one-trick pony. The album is made up of equally vibrant and fast-paced tracks that demonstrate his ability to weave pop melodies into contemporary riffs and basslines. Single, and second track on the album, ‘Sisyphus’ is a pulsating ode to Nash’s musical diversity. The track, based on the Greek myth of Sisyphus, is about a man who is made to roll a boulder up a hill every day only for it to roll back down. However, in this song Nash has taken this idea and applied it to the struggles in a relationship instead of an individual. Armed with a glitchy, repetitive music video, the track layers rapid vocals, choppy guitars and an infectious drum melody to create an upbeat alt-pop track. This vibe is also found on his debut single, ‘Terra’ released on May 13 2016. Terra is justly buoyant, albeit with a slightly more eerie tone. The track couples crashing drums and churning organs for a rich and compelling ascendency to orchestral splendour.

Notably on this album, is Nash’s collaborations with Marika Hackman, The Staves and Tom Fleming of Wild Beasts. Fleming features on ‘The Midas Touch’ and contrasts Nash’s atmospheric vocals with deep, dark narrations that ground the entire track. The cameo certainly adds to the diversity of the album, despite The Midas Touch not being the strongest track. Alongside this, Nash joins up with The Staves on ‘The Sirens’ for an absolutely stunning collaboration. Nash’s voice and melodies form up perfectly with The Staves harmonies and the finished product is a celestial climax of all the definingly fantastic qualities of the album.

In short, The Pace of Passing is a credible debut from Nash. From the sound of accompanying interviews, it appears as though this is going to be a long-term project from him while Bombay Bicycle Club continue their ambiguous hiatus. He has already confirmed that he is working on the next release, and his debut sets the tone for future greatness in whatever form this will come in. It is somewhat comforting and exciting to know that while the world is deprived of Bombay Bicycle Club splendour, Nash will be churning out gorgeous harmonies in the form of Toothless, and the project is definitely one to keep a sharp eye on in the next year.
Sian Blewitt

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