As the waves of praise for Belfast-born, and London-based duo Bicep’s eponymous debut continue -- steadily securing its position as one of THE electronic albums of the year -- their latest release, the “Glue” EP, drops digitally today and on vinyl on 3rd November via Ninja Tune. The EP features two new tracks, “Metro” and “DLR,” both embodying the same throttling yet atmospheric tunes featured throughout the full length. With “Metro” whose propulsive build takes cues from earlier single “Glue” and the winding, acid-tinged groove of “DLR,” the duo continues to seamlessly minimize the divide between raw, big-room dance cuts and artfully crafted, often times deliberately restrained tracks fit for home listening.
Listen to “Metro”
https://open.spotify.com/album/5hXjtSmicQETbDf1HNfEeD
Inspired by the song’s homage to the rave era, Bicep also share the video for “Glue” by Joe Wilson. It is a series of landscapes which revisit the sites once brought alive by now infamous raves but today sit desolate and empty, retreating back to their former state with little to show of their impact they had on UK music culture. The static shots offer space to reflect on the importance of these locations and how an abandoned lido, remote airfield and disused warehouse helped to shape the lives of a generation. Juxtaposed with the images are the hazy, fragmented recollections of those who were there, lifted from Youtube comment sections of the genre’s most defining sounds. Perhaps the most beautiful and poignant pieces of evidence from the time, they eulogise over a time of unity and euphoria, and a longing to be returned for just one more night.
Watch “Glue”
With support in from Four Tet, Ben UFO, and The XX -- who recently played album single “Vale” on their Radio 1 Takeover -- as well as a 10-page cover story in Mixmag, Matt McBriar and Andy Ferguson have honed their skills as both producers and prolific selectors. The result of which is a sonically sprawling record that appeals to the most dedicated of headsy club-goers and bedroom listeners alike. Bicep has quickly climbed the charts, landing at an impressive #20 on the UK album charts and at #7 on the UK Vinyl charts. Their unique approach to this record, founded on the blueprint of classic house, techno, electro, and Italo disco but stamped with the signature Bicep sound, has won acclaim from Pitchfork, Resident Advisor and The Guardian, and was chosen as BBC 6Music’s ‘Album of the Day’ upon its release. The duo’s second single ‘Glue’ was a hit straightaway, racking up over 1.6 million streams on Spotify, a first play from Annie Mac, with further support from, Gilles Peterson, Lauren Laverne, and landing at #1 on the BBC Radio 1 Specialist Chart with Phil Taggart.
Indeed, the praise is well-earned; Few can forge an album with as many memorable hooks and dance floor moments as this one, but even fewer can make a truly crossover electronic album which moves into slower territories and maintains that same sweeping tone with such effortless fluidity. To quote Pitchfork, “What sets Bicep apart from their big-tent contemporaries is their ability to slow things down.” Bicep will play Pitchfork Music festival in Paris this November to close out an impressive run on the festival circuit this year, which saw them play Glastonbury, Coachella, and Primavera Festivals among others. Having recently returned from their sold out shows in LA & New York, Bicep continue to tour their roof raising live show across UK, Europe & Australia ahead of their biggest live ever show at The Roundhouse, London in April 2018.
Bicep Live Tour
03/11/17 - LE PETIT SALON - LYON - FR
04/11/17 - PITCHFORK FESTIVAL - PARIS - FR
11/11/17 - ELECTRIC BRIXTON - LONDON - UK*
17/11/17 - MOTION - BRISTOL - UK
18/11/17 - WAREHOUSE PROJECT - MANCHESTER - UK*
23/11/17 - KESSELHAUS - BERLIN - DE*
24/11/17 - KINO LUNA - WARSAW - PL*
25/11/17 - NITSA - BARCELONA - ES*
30/11/17 - BAAD - GLASGOW - UK*
02/12/17 - RAINBOW WAREHOUSE - BIRMINGHAM - UK*
14/12/17 - JAEGAR - OSLO - NO
21/12/17 - MONDO - MADRID - ES
22/12/17 - CONTRAIR - ANTWERP - BE
23/12/17 - MAASSILO - ROTTERDAM - NL*
02/03/18 - TBA - TBA
09/03/18 - THE TBC CLUB - BRISBANE - AU
10/03/18 - TBA - TBA
11/03/18 - PITCH MUSIC FESTIVAL - VICTORIA - AU
28/04/18 - ROUNDHOUSE - LONDON - UK
* HAMMER SUPPORTING
MORE INFO GO TO BICEPMUSIC.COM/STORE