Album Review

Biffy Clyro – Bubbles

• 16th Apr 2010

Biffy’s ‘Bubbles’ bursts into being with an abundance of beat and… Bisto. By the by, the only negative thing I can think of to say about this new single that it isn’t very alliterative. Simon Neil’s chirpy, delightfully Scottish vocals spring into life as the musical accompaniment gradually builds up to the chorus, creating a light, breezy verse which will have your kilts swishing in no time.

The chorus itself is nicely layered and far from overstated, but the repetitive guitar riff does get a bit much after a few turns. But it’s a chorus of many parts, and just as you’re settling down it transforms into a stirring, chant-like refrain, fittingly ending on the line “it’s time to wash away your sins and go home”, before the song itself returns home and effortlessly flows into another of its ever-chipper verses.

Something which does niggle a bit about this song (aside from its alliterative negligence) is its lack of variety; it doesn’t have a bridge, and as a result the song falls down disappointingly. The ABCABC structure doesn’t help, and ‘Bubbles’ feels somewhat deflated by the end without anything to bolster it in the middle, but nonetheless it’s a tip top song for the Spring sure to add a touch of the Highland Fling to your step.