Bicep Isle

n a review for AllMusic, Paul Simpson wrote: “After taking their material on the road and building a new studio, the London-based duo crafted their second album, Isles, which is inspired by the multi-cultural environment of their adopted home city. The majority of the record’s tracks essentially deliver variations on the signature Bicep sound, starting with a sturdy syncopated beat and building up intricate melodies and twisted synth arpeggios until everything reaches an emotional peak. Haunting vocals usually add to the drama.” Gareth O’Malley of Beats Per Minute explained: “Isles is an album caught between euphoric escapism and melancholic introspection. Isles pulls from diverse scenes and genres seemingly at will, folding all sorts of inspiration into an album that’s mostly primed for the dancefloor.” Mike Watkins of Clash described the album as “a brilliant pick me up, a dazzling set of songs that tap into our innermost impulses. A colourful way to remember those good times, and one that is perfectly prepared for our eventual return to the dance floor.”