Bicep – Isles

Belfast-born, London-based duoBicep (Andy Ferguson and Matt McBriar)have become one of the worlds most avidly appreciated curators and producers of electronic dance music.

Islesexpands on the artful energy of their 2017 debut, while digging deeper into the sounds, experiences and emotions that have influenced their lives and work incorporating influences which range from post-dubstep to old-school rave tunes.

They describeIslesas a snapshot in time of their work in this period, with the tracks designed to evolve in their different iterations from record to live show and beyond. This is definitely the home listening version, saysMatt, the live version will be much, much harder.

Apricotsis an expert demonstration of howBicepsstyle is in dialogue with so many important eras of dance musics history yet also remains distinctly their own.Apricotsfeatures shuffling broken beat drums which push the tune forward, the gently insistent groove providing a base from which the synths and vocal loops can build. It makes for hugely stirring listening, particularly when the ever-climbing synths reach their apex at the tracks climax. Other entries here may deliver some harder timbres there are electro and trance influences lurking towards the backend of Isles butBicepstill find the emotional sweet spot time and again across the course of the album.

The albums striking, explosive artwork is by Studio Degrau, creators of the iconic imagery for the duos first album.

Tracklisting

1. Atlas
2. Cazenove
3. Apricots
4. Saku (feat. Clara La San)
5. Lido
6. X (feat. Clara La San)
7. Rever (feat. Julia Kent)
8. Sundial
9. Fir
10. Hawk (feat. machna)
11. Siena (feat. Clara La San) (Deluxe Edition)
12. Meli (I) (Deluxe Edition)
13. Light (Deluxe Edition)