Arts & Culture, Reviews

Bastille: ‘Give Me the Future’ is an exploration of tech

14 February 202213 February 2022By
Bastille: ‘Give Me the Future’ is an exploration of tech

Bastille’s breath-taking fourth album explores the futuristic technologies that have consumed humanity and made the impossible, possible.

Rating: 5/5

February 4th brings the release of Bastille’s highly anticipated album, Give Me the Future. It has been labelled as “Bastille’s best album since Bad Blood”.

The album dives into the futuristic world we now live in and explores technology’s effect on humanity. How as a species we have become entranced by the endless opportunities we have through living in a kaleidoscopic world full of online metropolises.

The Power of our Technological Age

The first track, Distorted Light Beam, doesn’t hesitate to show the pull of online life. The ability to “delete my history” or “choose how you see me” highlights how each online wonderland allows you to say goodbye to anxieties or restrictions. Instead, you are free to be whoever you want.  With the pressures and burdens of everyday life, it isn’t hard to see why so many of us crave this kind of existence.

However, the album does address the issues that come with this. The song Stay Awake questions the point of consciousness, as we can now have whatever we want within an online universe. We can have “cyber love”, “euphoria”, “passion”, “violence”, “confidence” and overall “something new to feel” all at a click of a button. With the endless possibilities of fantasy, the choice between fiction and reality seems an easy one.

An Ode to Science Fiction

Throughout the album, there are constant references to science fiction, whether that be film, literature, video games or VR. Brave New World, The Matrix and Ex Machina are just a few. Through this, the band pays homage not to just science fiction but the power of our imagination. They are encouraging us to travel into the depth of our minds and revel in what we can find there. Despite the album’s February 4th release, you can already listen to their single No Bad Days and watch the accompanying music video. Co-directed by lead singer Dan Smith, the video shows Smith’s attempt to resurrect a lost loved one. The woman gives us huge Ex Machina vibes, as she is being brought back to life through the use of machines and technology. He intertwines human and robot to create a hybrid entity, showing our rapid and all-consuming inhalation of technology. It poses the question: how human are we when we are submerged in this technological world?

However, you could also argue that the video is a celebration of technological advancements as we are entering into a modern age where tech can give life. With the final shot showing the woman open her eyes, we are left with a message of hopefulness.

Although, I could be completely wrong with both these observations. That is what makes the album so powerful. We are left to use our imagination and create our own responses. These endless possibilities are what the band wants us to explore, as the limited potential of life is what makes the world so beautiful.

Bastille at Their Best

Amid the explosive whirlwind of multiple sounds, from orchestral synths, gospel voices and spaceship sounds, to disco basslines and strings, we get a moment of peaceful thought through the spoken word track Promises. Spoken by actor and director Riz Ahmed, the monologue acts as a pensive point in the album, which takes the themes we have heard and presents them clearly and succinctly. It allows us to regroup and think of humanity and the lives we lead. 

While exploring the kaleidoscopic era we live in, in an intelligent and inspirational way, the album is also filled with incredible melodies, beats and the hypnotic voice of Smith. It is a transferrable album that can accompany you on your walk to uni or have a whole club dancing. Despite its occasionally dark observations of modern-day life, each song is undeniably a bop. 

When asked about the album Smith says, “I’m just observing the truly weird times we’re living in and having fun responding to it through these songs”.

The final song, Who Knows What the Future Holds… Don’t Matter If I Got You acts as a final message. It shows that despite the chaos around us we must enjoy and appreciate the present and those we have in it.  As Smith says, “this is happening, whether we like it or not. Finding happiness in the moment is surely the aim, whether it’s in the real or virtual world.”

Give Me the Future is a feel-good, thought-provoking and fun album. When listening you are taken through a distorted light beam and into an exciting, psychedelic world. It is a perfect piece of escapism.

Give Me the Future is out now and Bastille go on tour from 3rd April.

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