Clean Bandit

Yesterday I inserted a couple of headlines that referred to a very hot and very public (albeit rather short-lived) romance between Years & Years frontman Olly Alexander and Clean Bandit's violinist and pianist Neil Amin-Smith. I avoided elaborating yesterday, so I could highlight it today, along with the presentation of Clean Bandit. Here's the then happy couple promoting a positive vote in Ireland's referendum for gay marriage:

And here is Clean Bandit: Jack Patterson – bass guitar, keyboard, vocals and piano, Luke Patterson – drums, percussion, Grace Chatto – cello, percussion, vocals and Neil Amin-Smith – violin, piano.

Band members Jack Patterson, Grace Chatto, and Neil Amin-Smith met while studying as undergraduates at Jesus College, University of Cambridge. At the time, Amin-Smith was leading a string quartet together with Chatto, who both attended Westminster School. The band has complex interrelations: Grace and Neil are old school friends, Jack and Luke are brothers and Jack and Grace are a couple.

The band's name, Clean Bandit, comes from a translation of a Russian phrase; the meaning is similar to the English phrase "complete bastard", though Patterson later stated that it is actually a more affectionate term similar to "utter rascal".

In December 2012, the group released their debut single A+E, which peaked at #100 on the UK Singles Chart.

In March 2013, they released their second single, Mozart's House. The song was a hit and peaked at #17 on the UK Singles Chart.

The band's third single, Dust Clears, peaked at #43 on the chart.

It was their next single, Rather Be, which featured a talented lady called Jess Glynne, which catapulted them to superstadom. The song made #1 in the UK, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Israel, Austria, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, #2 in France, Italy, Australia, Belgium, New Zealand, Switzerland, and Luxembourg, #3 in Slovakia, #4 in Portugal and Brazil, #5 in Spain and Denmark, #7 in South Africa, #8 in Lebanon, #10 in the US, #13 in Canada, and #44 in Japan. The video, which was filmed in Tokyo, Japan, has since received more than 410 million views.

Followup single Extraordinary, ft. Sharna Bass, made #5 in the UK, #17 in Italy and #21 in Ireland.

Come Over was a lesser hit, peaking at #45 in the UK and #76 in Germany.

All these singles are part of the band's first (and so far only) album, which came out in May 2014 and is called New Eyes. The album peaked at #3 on the UK Albums Chart and was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry. It was also a hit in most parts of the world.

A few months later, a special edition of the album appeared, which contained 4 more songs, 2 of which became hits. First, there was their re-teaming with Jess Glynne, Real Love, which became their 2nd most successful single. (#2 in the UK and Germany, #13 in Austria, #26 in Ireland).

Stronger was also a hit, making #4 in the UK and #56 in Ireland.

Tears, their most recent single, has been their only non-album hit: it made #5 in the UK, #21 in Ireland and #95 in Germany. It featured last year's UK X Factor winner Louisa Johnson.

Tears is currently being treated as the lead single from the new upcoming album, which the band are currently working on.

It remains to be seen which band, Years & Years from yesterday, or Clean Bandit from today, will have the longest and most prominent career. In any case, I wish them both good luck.