British tech-house duo Bicep have announced the highly anticipated follow-up to their world-conquering 2017 debut album; it’s called Isles and will arrive on January 22 through Ninja Tune. About the sound of the album, Matt McBriar has said “This is definitely the home listening version – the live version will be much, much harder.”
That said, “Apricots” is no slouch, using a impactful thud to underpin a mesmeric sample of traditional Malawian singers (that Bicep have magpied from a 1958 record released by Beating Heart, whose profits go towards supporting the ongoing music conservation work of the International Library of African Music). This rapturous opening gradually floats into the apex of “Apricots”, before Bicep bring the sound raining down in a way that has become their trademark over the course of their live shows. They’re not done there though, finding more layers to interweave with yet another 1950s vocal sample, this time by The Bulgarian State Radio & Television Female Vocal Choir. Altogether, “Apricots” is a vivid reminder of how communal an experience going to a good club night can be – and boy do we pine for the day when we’ll get to hear the “much harder” version.
The video for “Apricots” was directed by Mark Jenkin, the mind behind excellent underground film Bait, which won a BAFTA earlier this year for Outstanding Debut by a British Director.
Revist “Atlas”, which Bicep released way back in March and is set to be the opening track on Isles. The album is out on January 22 via Ninja Tune.
