I've been complaining to all my friends about how sad I was that I didn't get tickets to Bicep at Printworks 'cause I thought they were too expensive at first and then when I realised I had to go it was too late. It's funny how if you complain about something enough, you annoy the universe so much that it just gives in. So, on the day of their first show, I found half price tickets, and of course, copped them. Shoutout to Will on Instagram.
I've seen Bicep DJ sets before and they've been very much enjoyable but nothing I've wanted to go crazy about - the thought of a live show was much more exciting to me. The album has a consistent sound and yet variation in mood enough to create highs and lows in the set. As I'll explain later, this definitely turned out to be the case. We arrived just in time to catch the beginning of the performance, and there was a general murmur of excitement running through the crowd. Which, by the way, was massive, and the way Printworks is laid out boxes you in under such a high ceiling that the crowd seems even more intense.
They opened with 'Orca' - first song on the album, pretty straightforward choice. It was built up really effectively to bring us in and get us hyped for the show before dropping the bass heavy. Their 3-bicep logo was pulsating on the screens behind them and the ground was shaking. Truly captivating opening. I think 'Metro' came next - my memory is a little fuzzy here so can't say much - but 'Rain' was the next huge tune. I've mentioned it before in this blog and it is without a doubt one of my favourite tracks from the duo. The crowd mentality was superb, it was almost like the rails up the walls around us were shaking with the rhythm. The light show onstage during this was particularly impressive - as well as the general geometric patterns, flashes of light would fade in and across the screen; visually mesmerising, acoustically brilliant.
Suddenly, we move into the Bicep remix of Isaac Tichauer's 'Higher Level', and the cold blue-green tones onstage flash into a passion of red and orange. It's like heat has been turned up on the gig, and at the same time it's refreshing to move into a remix from pure album content. It's raw and blunt in its sound and approach, I feel like the intensity levels at this point in the show were at their highest. With this being the case, it was then an effective transition to move into 'Just', returning the lighting to crisp dark blues as the robotic synth melodies echo around the dark, old printing house. I really enjoyed this one as I think the acoustics of the venue worked so well with the music and the ease off on intensity was peng after the last track.
Next came 'Opal', which was likely one of the most anticipated numbers. It delivered for sure, there's no way this banger couldn't slap. The rotating biceps came back on to the screen and everyone was singing along, how lovely. I thought that I would be wanting Four Tet's remix, being such a fanboy, but I actually really liked that they kept mainly to the original; it reminded me how great it is stand-alone anyway. They also took it down a heavy techno route towards the end which was GREAT, as gritty as you could ask for. 'Dahlia' featured with some pretty cool light shows on the back wall of the hall - again Printworks as a venue making the gig even greater. 'Aura' was another crowd pleaser that they smashed it with - what a tuuuuune. I've actually got to include footage of the drop here because it was so perfect - enjoy with my very own complimentary 'oi oiiii' lol:
So sick, no? I just find the melody of this track so hypnotising and with the lasers and deafening live bass it was insane. The next few tracks similarly carried the atmosphere high and maintained the overall effect the show had seamlessly. Musically, 'Vale' was probably the most enjoyable here, it has that sound that makes you drift up and away with the vibrations. It was fresh to have some lyrical emphasis as well. The music ultimately seemed to come to a finish and the stage went dark. You heard mumblings around you as people wondered if it had finished when the vocal sample of 'Glue' began to leak out from the speakers. Obviously, everyone loved it; this was the clear closing choice and a fantastic encore. The lighting was just beautiful, with an array of rainbow colour choices on the screens and with the lasers, there was a strong sense of goodbye in the track. It left me feeling satisfied with the show and got the biggest cheer out of the crowd at the end!
So, overall Bicep's live show was without a doubt enjoyable and some of the highlights really hit home for me. At the same time, I have to say that it didn't really surprise me. There weren't any track choices that caught me off guard and I think it was essentially a showcase of the album with a few other big tunes scattered in. I'm sure this was what most people were wanting, so it definitely kept us happy, and I definitely have a sense now that I've seen Bicep live, but I would have loved a moment where a mix of two songs left me mouth open. Maybe an obscure track choice or a big track from another artist. I just feel like that would have made it feel more performance-heavy, if that makes sense. With that said, I do think that the lighting and adaption to the venue were effortlessly well executed, 10/10 for that. Thank you for such a great show, Bicep, and can't wait until the next time!
It's a bright and early midday and I'm excited to start something I want to make into a series! Every week, my best source of new music is often my Discover Weekly on Spotify. Sorry to plug, but it's honestly so eclectic, consistent, and the right amount that's not too much I feel I can't listen to in a week with ease but not too little that I'm left disappointed. Anyway, as I usually share all the songs straight away with people, I thought it would be a good idea to start listing my favourites here. Maybe not every week, but if the Discover bangs, you know. The algorithms behind it are complicated and clearly effective, but it's designed in a way where it looks at what you listen to and tries to find songs that people listen to together with ones you've already heard, and so on. Ironically, I'm a week late to writing this, so let's just get on to the music...
#1 - Maajo - Maajo
This was without a doubt my favourite this week. I quite love the way the group have described themselves in their Spotify bio, as 'inspired by wanderlust, exotic mysticism and David Attenborough.' The members are Jon Thureson, Juhani Lammi, Tuomas Lammi, Jussi Laitinen, Janne Melanen and Mitja Virikko, and they come from Tempere, Finland! Despite the wintry climate of their hometown, their music combines tropical sounds, western and African instrumentation, and modern club beats. This whole album, Tropic of Tulli, is fantastic, but the self-titled track is what came up on my Discover and is definitely my favourite. My friend actually sent me this months ago, and of course I didn't pay it the respect it needed until I could claim it my own find (sorry Rose). The song was originally released as a 12'' under a one-off label 'Seagull' and essentially brought about the new material that makes up the rest of the album. The running conga rhythms throughout, warm synth chords and the small guitar sequence stand out in the instrumentation to me as representing the relaxing tone that makes this song cause you to feel so happy. This, combined with the African vocals (which I have tried and failed to find a translation for :(), creates a nine minute masterpiece. I really like the sampling of the vocals actually, it's subtle, just repeating the last word of the main hook on the second iteration, and ending the whole song with an extension of the second sample, bringing about a sense of completion. Every time you listen to it, it takes you to that same, comforting place, in the sun, safe and sound.
#2 - Acid Rain (Edit) - Lxury
I really can't find much about this artist or the song, other than that he is from the UK. Gassed about that though. The heavy kick throughout most of the song gives that classic dance music feel, but I just really love the ascending and then descending synth melodies, such as at 0:46. They're almost extra-terrestrial, and I can imagine that in a club it would sound pretty cool acoustically. The four chords are peng and the sounds blend well together to create an electronic, neon atmosphere where people are travelling in tubes like in Futurama or something, or at least that's how my brain sees it (lol). I also really like the bass line; it focuses mainly on one note a lot, but does jump around at quite angular intervals as well to break up your expectations.
#3 Alaska - Sofi Tukker Remix - Maggie Rogers, Sofie Tukker
So, the original is by an American singer-songwriter from Easton, Maryland. She was discovered through this song by Pharrell Williams at a NYU masterclass, apparently. It's cute, but let's talk about the remix. The New York duo, Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern, hence 'Sofi Tukker', took the best parts of the song and made a right chilled house banger. That is, the airy and reverbed vocals reflecting the meaning of the lyrics. 'You and I, there's air between' is such a peng way to describe feeling distant from someone and with the tone of the song it creates a mood persuasively. It's very simple with three chords, but they that melancholic sound which I love, and the staccato plus reverb punctuates the music well. The guitar solos are just beautiful, especially the descending lines at the end of the first phrase. Love love love.
#4 - Winona - DJ Boring
This one is a lo-fi house track from 2016. It samples an interview of Winona Ryder where she talks about the difficulties of being an actor from a young age. I think the punchiest line is 'it is difficult to be judged, to be reviewed as a teenager' and DJ Boring (great name) communicates this as his influence in the music. You look back on past pain, admit it and accept it. It's sad, but ultimately you move on. That's what this song says to me. The varied electronic instrumentation and sound waves capture this in their combination, they create this hazy, thoughtful mood. What stuck out to me on my first listen is that the sample from the interview and the music are certainly one work, but they stand apart and distinct, as if they're two components within the story being told. I haven't really heard anything like it before, that's why I wanted to include it. Also, the artwork is great.
So, there are my favourites from this week. If you haven't, you should check out your own Discover Weekly on Spotify. I think it's played a big part in what my music taste is today versus last year, or the year before that. If you listen to anything, honestly listen to Maajo. I'm using it to pretend the rain in London isn't happening and I'm just chilling under the rays. Honestly just allow the rain, I can't complain enough, this weekend I stepped in a fat, dirty puddle getting off the bus. Feel sorry for me.
In a bit x
It's really started to get cold outside which means going out attire has shifted a bit. All about that layering, so you can tie your jacket round your waist on the dance-floor and it's still a look. I also find it's great for dramatic effect so that when a banger is coming through you can take the jumper off to show how serious you are, lol. Anyway, I went to two very different nights this weekend but both of them stood out to me as worth talking about. The key theme here is great and unexpected combinations of sounds, which I guess is the key to good music at the end of the day.
On Friday I went to Dalston Superstore for 'Hungama', a queer South-Asian focused party where they combine Bollywood and Indian pop with hip-hop and electro. It sounded cool, but I really didn't know what to expect. It was a Diwali special leading up to next week, and the DJs - Ms Lanji, Max Allen, Dj Anch, Lil India and Shimmy Hendrix) - were all sick. I'll get into my favourite music moments in a bit but I just want to talk a bit about the vibe first. As I've just come to accept at most nights at popular venues, you always get a few people pulling weird faces at the music as if confused that they disapprove even though they've specifically paid for this night (they're usually white). While there were a few there, they were definitely in the minority and easy to ignore. On the whole, the atmosphere was jubilant and welcoming, diverse and inclusive, and there was a constant, reassuring sense of fun through the whole night. You just wanted to be there, you wanted to be part of it.
Musically, it was enchanting. The electro remixing of Bollywood music was so well executed I was losing my voice by the end of the night from saying 'oi oiiiii' every few minutes. Build-ups were sufficent, drops were satisfying. I can't pretend I'm in any way knowledgeable about Indian music, but seeing everyone around me and my friends recognise each song was exciting in itself. One track was combined with Major Lazer's 'Lean On' which I have found here, and another with 'Sorry' by Justin Bieber, and the inclusion of the entirety of 'Dola Re Dola' had everyone downstairs losing it. On that note, there was enough contrast between the rooms that it stopped you getting bored of the same mood for too long. While this fusion of sounds dominated the basement, there was more alternation on the ground floor as well as Western music with Indian influence. Bicep's 'Rain', one of my favourite songs by the duo, samples the 1976 Bollywood movie - "Laila Majnu" and was a great example of this. Purely for sick track choice I want to mention Jamie XX's 'On Hold' Remix; I wouldn't have expected it at this event, but it worked great in the mix of music upstairs!
All in all a 10/10 night - I believe Hungama is on every month or so if you get the opportunity, go! It's definitely an event I want to add to my regular schedule.
Moving on to Saturday night now, XOYO was the host of 'Pleasurehood', featuring DJs Pional and Joe Goddard. Here we come again to interesting combinations, because I didn't expect the two to compliment each other so well. Pional was on first and the set as a whole utilised heavy house and techno beats and ambient electronic treble to shift the mood of the crowd. I found some of it quite emotionally evocative, and 'Time of The G's' was a prime example of this. There's something about the pedal note alternating between two chords and the eerie vocals that's melancholic, almost vulnerable. 'Tempest' was also great and the constant build up was buff to dance to.
Bicep's 'Orca' and Four Tet's 'Afraid' remix (throwback to lost village!) both featured, both complimenting the set well and building the hype. Pional moved away from this pure techy sound plenty too, and a couple of songs really stood out to me. 'Pembe (Jimmy Rouge Edit)' by Orange Tree Edits was pure bliss, I loved every second of the African vocals and the brilliant instrumentation. '1960 What?' by Gregory Porter - what a tune! Don't even know how to describe it to be quite honest, but Pional's mixing and this track were stunning together. There were a few songs here and there I didn't love, but I never got bored and overall I rated it highly.
Joe came on at about 2am and although the crossover was slick, you knew he had arrived. There's a certain nuance to his style, and the diversity of music he covered was consistently entertaining. 'Deputy of Love' brought the disco IN; after the intensity of the techno throughout Pional, this was so refreshing, and it didn't stop there! The anthem that is 'You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)' had the entire club belting, dancing together, having a MOMENT. We saw RnB with Ciara's 'Oh' which is an absolute timeless bop and no one can tell me otherwise. There was, of course, plenty of wavey vibes, which I was expecting from Goddard. 'Magic Fly' by Space provided the bouncy synths to create that spacey feeling, like gravity was slowly disappearing. 'Killer' by Jupiter Heroes really reminds me of a chase level in a retro video game, if that makes any sense, like there's some sort of impending danger. It was out there, but really slapped in the club.
Anyway, this was all great, but unsurprisingly the highlight of the night without a doubt was 'Gabriel'. It is of course Joe's most famous song, but I think with good reason. It's almost operatic to me, as you shift from one section of the song to the next. I loved it, everyone in the club loved it, and seeing it live changed my perception of it substantially. It was just unbeatable, and as soon as it ended I just wanted to hear it again. I think we played it twice on the way home to be honest. Other than this, however, I didn't hear much of his own music which was a bit of a shame. I did have to leave a bit early so I'm sure there was more, but one major song in over an hour is too little in my opinion either way. I was really hoping to hear 'Lose Your Love' and in my ideal world the set ended with the chill vibes of 'Electric Lines', so I'm just gonna assume that's what happened...
I've got to take a second to commend the lighting - sometimes the lights can just feel like filler to the music to keep your visual senses distracted. But Pleasurehood used it as part of the performance magnificently. There were dancers all around the room using strobes, sometimes of their own accord, sometimes in unison. The colour changes and use of darkness weren't overdone and timed well, and generally I just think the visual-audio relationship really complimented my experience of the night altogether.
So, I had a great weekend overall, and am now really enjoying the comfort of my bed on a Sunday. If you haven't already, do check out both Pional and Joe Goddard, they're quite different but I love their music and would definitely want to see both of them again! Hope you enjoyed reading, safe x
