Bicep (album)

Bicep is the self-titled debut album by electronic music duo Bicep, released on Ninja Tune on 1 September 2017.[1]

Bicep
Studio album by
Bicep
Released1 September 2017 (2017-09-01)
GenreElectronic
Length57:57
LabelNinja Tune
ProducerBicep
Bicep chronology
Bicep
(2017)		 Isles
(2021)
Singles from Bicep
  1. "Aura"
    Released: 15 June 2017
  2. "Glue"
    Released: 2 November 2017
  3. "Vale"
    Released: 2017
  4. "Rain"
    Released: 11 April 2018

Upon its release, Bicep went in at number 20 on the UK Albums Chart.[2] The album received positive reviews on its release, with support from publications such as Pitchfork, The Guardian, Resident Advisor and Mixmag.

Reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.7/10[3]
Metacritic79/100[4]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
Clash8/10[6]
Exclaim!7/10[7]
Financial Times[8]
The Guardian[9]
Mixmag9/10[10]
Pitchfork7.4/10[11]
PopMatters8/10[12]
Resident Advisor4.2/5[13]
The Skinny[14]

Pitchfork referred to the album as "a varied document drawing on the rich history and variety of UK dance music, updated with sleek, modern sounds, vibrant psychedelic textures, and impeccable production".[11]

Mixmag referred to it as "laser focused in the pursuit of pleasure" and that Bicep "makes absolute sense as a complete album".[10]

The Guardian noted that the debut album "fitfully lives up to expectations", naming "Aura" as "one of the dance tracks of the year".[9]

Resident Advisor praised the "rich and varied LP", noting "They out do themselves on Bicep... Contemporary, relevant and, most of all, exciting".[13]

Mixmag later placed the album in first place on their list of Top Albums of the Year, referring to the album as "simultaneously classic and undeniably contemporary".[15]

The lead single, "Glue", was voted by the public as DJ Mag's (Best of British) Track of the Year.[16] It also reached number 1 topping Amazon's Best Electronic of 2017.[17] second in Mixmag's 100 Best Tracks of 2017,[18] and the Joe Wilson directed video came in at number three in Fact magazine's ten best music videos of 2017.[19]

Track listing

All tracks written by Andrew Ferguson and Matthew McBriar, except where noted.

No.TitleLyricsLength
1."Orca" 4:34
2."Glue" 4:29
3."Kites" 6:26
4."Vespa" 1:27
5."Ayaya" 3:36
6."Spring" 6:55
7."Drift"Amy Spencer4:55
8."Opal" 4:31
9."Rain" 5:51
10."Ayr"Amy Spencer5:00
11."Vale" 4:57
12."Aura" 5:17
Total length:57:57
Notes

Personnel
Bicep
  • Andrew Ferguson
  • Matthew McBriar
Additional personnel
  • Silkie Carlo – vocals on "Glue"
  • Nelly Furtado – vocals on "Vale"
  • Amy Spencer – lyrics and vocals on "Drift" and "Ayr"

Charts
Chart (2017–2018) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[20] 113
Irish Albums (IRMA)[21] 67
UK Albums (OCC)[2] 20

Certifications
Certifications for Bicep
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[22] Silver 60,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "Bicep to release first album on Ninja Tune". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  2. "Bicep | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart.
  3. "Bicep by Bicep reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  4. "Reviews and Tracks for Bicep by Bicep". Metacritic. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  5. Simpson, Paul. "Bicep – Bicep". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  6. Kalia, Ammar (6 September 2017). "Bicep – Bicep". Clash. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  7. Ellman, Peter (30 August 2017). "Bicep: Bicep". Exclaim!. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  8. Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (29 December 2017). "Bicep: Bicep — 'clean and balanced'". Financial Times. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  9. Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (31 August 2017). "Bicep: Bicep review – analogue deep house duo flex muscles on fitfully riveting debut". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  10. Muggs, Joe (1 September 2017). "Bicep 'Bicep' (Ninja Tune)". Mixmag. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  11. Weiss, Jesse (30 August 2017). "Bicep: Bicep Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  12. Kalia, Ammar (1 September 2017). "Bicep: Bicep". PopMatters. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  13. Ryce, Andrew (1 September 2017). "Bicep – Bicep". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  14. Francis, Claire (30 August 2017). "Bicep – Bicep". The Skinny. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  15. Staff, Mixmag. "The Top 50 Albums of 2017". Mixmag. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  16. McCallum, Rob (18 December 2017). "Here's all the winners from the Best of British Awards 2017". DJMag.com. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  17. "Best Electronic of 2017: Arca, Ikonika featuring Sweyn J and Jessy Lanza, Lanark Artefax, Max Cooper, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Daphni, Laurel Halo, Clark, Lapalux featuring Louisahhh, Sam Gellaitry, Talaboman, Forest Swords, Joe Goddard featuring SLO, Flume feat. Kucka, James Holden & The Animal Spirits, Björk, Four Tet, Maya Jane Coles, Extrawelt, Djrum, Blondes, Blanck Mass, The Cyclist, London Modular Alliance, Actress, Nathan Fake, Todd Terje, Call Super, Yaeji, Lone, Avalon Emerson, Bicep, Botany, Throwing Snow, Special Request, Zomby, Jlin, Helena Hauff, Fever Ray, Com Truise, The Kingdom, Bonobo featuring Innov Gnawa, Sasha feat. Poliça, Photay, GAS, George Fitzgerald, Goldie & Ulterior Motive, LCD Soundsystem, Oneohtrix Point Never, or:la, Shanti Celeste, DJ Seinfeld, Goldie, Lorenzo Senni, Juana Molina, Dauwd, ANOHNI, Christopher Port, Floating Points, Burial: Amazon.co.uk: MP3 Downloads". Amazon. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  18. "The 100 Best Tracks of 2017". Mixmag. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  19. Bowe, Miles; Horner, Al (5 December 2017). "The 10 best music videos of 2017". FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  20. "Ultratop.be – Bicep – Bicep" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  21. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Bicep". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  22. "British album certifications – Bicep – Bicep". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
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