Isles - Bicep: Review

Bicep

are an Irish electronica duo who first emerged in 2017 with a self-titled debut record full of punchy, involved, house parallel bangers. After receiving critical acclaim and achieving commercial success they embarked on a major tour and last years trilogy of singles was the pairs first new music since 2018. 

Review By Lav:

I wasn't among the first wave of fans of the original Bicep album even though it's normally the kind of record I would stumble across. Despite coming around to it late by the end of 2017 I was all in on the records unique exciting sound. While I haven't thought much about the pair in the last few years where they've released very little music as soon as they returned I was all in for a second helping of their sound. While this record features a number of solid tracks and cool experiences it's a change-up from the bands original sound and struggles to find a new sound that's as definitive throughout. 

The record had 4 singles leading up to it and I was mixed on the bunch. Atlas was the first single and serves as the opening track where the record wastes no time introducing some jungle percussion and ethereal vocal samples. The song has a conventional house music feel which isn't harmed by the break in the songs back half that transitions it from percussion led to synth led. As a tone setter the song works for the record even if it feels like it's holding your hand at points. Saku was the other single I enjoyed and it turned out to be one of the records quieter tracks. The vocals don't sound synthetic but the have a surreal unbreaking poise that helps them fit in perfectly with the surrounding electronic landscape. There is nothing overwhelming about the track but it draws me in with quieter nuances and the results are positive. 

Cazenove is a faster more jittery track with a really unique array of synth sounds at its disposal. It sort of has a hook in the form of a drum breakdown with some more whispy vocal samples that split up the tracks progression. The song is tightly composed by still manages to feel exciting and free. Lido is the shortest track on the record and it stands out, but in a good way. It has a quiet demeanor but a grand sound when all is said and done with some absolutely religious vocals and a massive mix for them to exist in. It may not be my absolute favorite song but I definitely won't forget it. Rever doesn't waste any time at all diving into hard-hitting percussion and thick grooves. It features a variety of vocal samples highlighted by what sounds like an entire chorus drifting in and our of the song. Iy goes through a few quieter passages but always comes back with something confrontational that makes its 5 minute runtime worthwhile. Finally the closing track Hawk is the records last highlight as well as its longest song. I don't mind the length of the track either because it has compositional poise with energetic rises and blissful lulls. The song has a tangible momentum and flow throughout that ends the record off on a good note. 

Sundial was a single I was mixed on despite being one of the most up-tempo tracks on the record right out of the gate. The percussion is raw and fiery but does have to hold up the song almost entirely on its own for quite a while. There are some lackadaisical synths washing int and out of the background and pitched up vocals over everything but it all feels so low impact compared to the percussion. X is a weird blend of styles making for a slow developing song that still remains somewhat driving over its 5 minute runtime. It slowly transforms from a kind of abstract vibe song into something much more distinct wish harsher sounds. While it kept me on the edge of my seat the first few times it doesn't quite hold up. Fir is one of the longer tracks on the record and shows up in the back half with some decent moments but not nearly enough to last the full 5+ minutes. When the distant tense synth lines come in over top of the track it has this sensation of digital paranoia that I find really interesting, but it doesn't last as long as I hoped. The only track I really didn't enjoy was surprisingly Apricots, a track I've seen quite a few people enjoying since it was released as a single last year. While it does have some interesting details worked into it you can't find them behind the incessant vocal sample placed front and center on the song and looped over and over again. The song is honestly a non-starter because the sample is so annoyingly interpolated I don't even want to see the track through to some of the cooler moments on the back half.

Isles is a decent record but not quite the caliber of the bands debut, and not as sonically coherent as I was hoping. While changes in sound are inevitable there's no denying a decrease in songwriting quality and consistency across this album. There are plenty of moments here I'm sure I'll revisit all year but as a whole I see this as a decent project worth a shot for EDM fans but nothing that stopped me in my tracks. 6/10

Album Cover Review By Tyler Judson:

This is a nie abstract cover. I like the vibrant contrasting colors and the organic way it moves through the composition. Even though these aspects are successful this could just be a nice piece of abstract are and doesn't have any real branding to connect it to the artist. 6/10

For more EDM check out my review of Autechre's SIGN here