Bicep - Bicep


Bicep
Bicep
2017
Spotify

When Jamie xx's In Colour came out it sort of sucked up all the energy from modern dance music. It was such a force, so classic, yet so different finding something better was an almost impossible task. Well, Bicep never got that message and with their debut self titled record, they are trying to bring it back. Bicep got it's start as a blog, then a party, then a label and finally a record. The journey is a different one but gives their music this really interesting perspective. Deep House by and large doesn;t get the attention it deserves. When I go out it's disco or deep house and really nothing else because those are the two electronic music genres that know how to get a party moving. With Bicep you go on this really vast journey with them, but all through the lens of a banging party. They don't follow all the deep house rules off constantly keeping four on the floor but instead try to weave in jungle beats and booming 808s. The product is silky smooth and creates these really intricate soundscapes full of texture and life. Bicep have this really great ability to switch gears right when they need to on a track rather than letting it play out into infinity. This skill likely comes from throwing parties and being able to read a crowds reaction to different tracks. Most of the tracks also feature a somewhat psychedelic sound taking deep house from it's base and making it something really different and exciting.

You won't find the super long and really explorative electronic tracks on this record, instead Bicep opt for something more lean and concise. A song like "Ayaya" which begins with this conversation blasted through crazy effects eventually drops into this almost synthpop vibe which is absolutely infectious. "Spring" becomes almost catchy at one point as the synth bops away leaving you with a real smile on your face. With a lot of House music the productions tend to get down to the nitty gritty, wanting to put you straight into dance mode, but Bicep explore allow their tracks to be more than just a dance song even if that means sacrificing a constant barrage hands in the air moments. The drops are slick rather than bombastic, you are not going to jump up and down when they come, but you will move your ass and that's the whole point. You get the sense that Bicep have a lot more to give, because the record is so incredibly diverse but on it's own this is a really solid album. I can't wait for what's next, but for now I am going to keep on grooving to this, and you should too.

8.1 out of 10

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