More about: Bombay Bicycle Club

Happy Christmas from Bombay Bicycle Club, who have released the beautiful third single from their 2020 album Everything Else Has Gone Wrong. 'Racing Stripes' arrives today, ready for when you need to disappear into another world this coming festive week. 

Organ-sounds and mournful vocals characterise a heart-wrenching new sound for Bombay Bicycle Club. 'Racing Stripes' is a fragile, wintery ballad made from delicate paper tissue layers. A real lighter-swayer, the soft sounds are about keeping on keeping on: a theme that has already appeared in the band's first releases in five years, 'Eat, Sleep, Wake (Nothing But You)' and 'Everything Else Has Gone Wrong.' Meet the song that'll define your Christmas this year:

Heartfelt singer-songwriter Billie Marten joins frontman Jack Steadman for some vulnerable complementary vocals in the closing half of the song. There's a palpable sense of relief in the tune, which comes not only from emotional emancipation and spiritual growth, but from the ending of writers' block. On writing the album in Cornwall, Steadman said: "I was like, this is it, I can't do this any more, and then the next morning you're like, ah, this is a really good song. The relief!"

"This light'll keep me going" Steadman sings on the simple lullaby, echoing themes of recovery from mental health problems in "euphoric anthem" 'Everything Else Has Gone Wrong.' 

The full album will arrive 17 January 2020 via Caroline International/Island Records. Catch it on tour:

JANUARY
20 - Cambridge, Corn Exchange - SOLD OUT
21 - Bournemouth, Academy - SOLD OUT
23 - Leicester, De Montfort Hall
24 - Cardiff, University SU Great Hall - SOLD OUT
25 - Leeds, Academy - SOLD OUT
27 - Newcastle, Academy - SOLD OUT
28 - Glasgow, Barrowland - SOLD OUT
31 - Birmingham, Academy - SOLD OUT

FEBRUARY
01 - Brighton, The Centre - SOLD OUT
03 - Manchester, Victoria Warehouse - SOLD OUT
04 - Sheffield, Academy
06 - Norwich, UEA - SOLD OUT
07 - London, Alexandra Palace - SOLD OUT
08 - London, Alexandra Palace
10 - Dublin, Vicar Street - SOLD OUT
11 - Dublin, Vicar Street - SOLD OUT
12 - Belfast, Ulster Hall - SOLD OUT

More about: Bombay Bicycle Club