Despite the familiar name, ‘& (Ampersand)’ is not a Band effort, it’s Dan Smith’s solo vision. The other Bastille members had no direct involvement, making this a deeply personal project shaped entirely by Smith’s creative input joined by some incredible other musicians like Moira Mack, Charlie Barnes and BIM.
At its core, ‘Ampersand’ is built around a deceptively simple symbol: ‘&’. But this ampersand isn’t just a stylistic flourish; it’s the foundation of the entire narrative concept. Each song explores a pair - not always romantic, but always in tension. These are opposing forces: real and fictional couples, mythological figures, biblical characters, and even conflicting emotional states. The project thrives on duality, connection, and contradiction, offering something deeply poetic and human in every track.
‘Part Four’ brings four new songs that continue this motif with remarkable clarity and emotional resonance. ‘Bonnie & Clyde’ reimagines the iconic outlaw lovers with cinematic flair, highlighting loyalty and inevitable downfall. ‘Bathsheba & Him’ takes a more introspective, haunting tone, drawing on biblical imagery to explore themes of power, gaze, and quiet resistance. ‘My Head & The Glass’ stands out as one of the most personal and introspective songs in the entire project - stripped-down, honest, and quietly devastating. Finally, ‘Bored & Overboard (Pandora’s Box)’ merges Greek mythology with modern emotional paralysis, capturing the chaos of feelings once let loose.
In addition to these four new songs, the EP includes four live recordings from an ARTE session at the Turner Contemporary gallery. Featuring live versions of ‘Good Grief’, ‘Eve & Paradise Lost’, ‘Leonard & Marianne’ and‘Zheng Yi Sao & Questions for Her’, these performances bring a raw, intimate energy that complements the studio versions perfectly. They remind listeners that while the project is steeped in concept, it’s also grounded in live emotion and performance.
Throughout the ‘Ampersand’ series, and especially in this final part, Dan Smith proves himself a masterful storyteller. The themes explored here, love and loss, myth and memory, identity and contradiction, are as timeless as they are timely. Rather than tying everything up neatly, ‘Part Four’ leans into emotional ambiguity. It doesn't offer closure in the traditional sense, but instead holds space for the tension between things: the “and” rather than the “or”.
Musically, this instalment is more restrained than earlier parts. The production is thoughtful and minimal, allowing the lyrics and narratives to take centre stage. There’s a quiet intimacy that makes the stories hit even harder.
What makes ‘Ampersand’ so powerful is precisely its refusal to over-explain or dramatise. It trusts the listener to lean in, to reflect, and to sit with the contradictions. There’s no grand finale here, no fireworks. Instead, it’s a final brushstroke on a much larger canvas. It’s the moment after the story ends, when you’re left alone with your thoughts, the echo of something important still lingering.
In the end, ‘& (Ampersand), Part Four’ is a fitting conclusion to a remarkable series. It’s poetic, bold, and deeply human. A quiet masterpiece that rewards close listening. Whether you’ve followed the project from the beginning or are discovering it now, this final chapter offers a beautiful entry point into the world of Smith’s ‘story songs’.
Laura Nagy
Image: Bastille Presents ‘& (Ampersand), Part Four’ Official EP Cover
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