After a long time in the shadows, BICEP have returned with a trio of new tracks.Out now via Ninja Tune, the new music marks the first time BICEP has released standalone music under their own name since 2021, when they wrapped their Isles album campaign.
They revisited their enigmatic alter ego DOVE last year, but a new chapter is now officially beginning.“This really marks the start of a new chapter for us,” BICEP said in a statement.
“Moving into a new studio, where we built our own vocal booth, has completely transformed how we work.” After teasing plenty of new music and giving fans a USB of unreleased tracks at an intimate New York City show, a trio of them are now out.‘Air’ (with SOARR) contrasts celestial vocals with a brooding beat in a way that lives up to the name.
The experience is that of floating carelessly high above the world, seeing the beauty and chaos beneath.‘Lemonder’ opens with sounds reminiscent of an NES-era fantasy game before giving way to a meditative section that isolates BICEP’s drums.
When the crystalline sounds return, the once-isolated pieces of the track combine for a conclusion that was worth the wait.The final track, ‘Viper,’ features vocals from Saskia and the Warp Records mainstay Clark.
The hardest-hitting of the trio, ‘Viper’ features driving production highlighted by staticky keys and punchy drums.While the other two tracks make sense in an organic setting, this one seems destined for more industrial environments.
“We’ve finally managed to step up our recording process, allowing us to collaborate live in the room with amazing vocalists like SOARR and Saskia to add a whole new layer to our sound,” BICEP added.“On top of that, it was a genuine pleasure to collaborate with Clark, one of our all-time favorite producers.
He has brought another dimension to the project and really pushed us to the next level while keeping our core energy intact.” Scroll to continue more ...