Live Review: Bicep return with expansive new single 'Atlas'

After teasing it many of their extensive DJ sets, electronic duo Bicep have finally released their highly anticipated new single 'Atlas', which is out now digitally via Ninja Tune.

'Atlas' is the follow-up to the UK duo's 2018 EP Rain and is six minutes of the well-defined and distinctive Bicep sound. Driven by garage-inspired grooves, deep synths and broken percussions, the track was created as they toured their immense live show across the world.

"It would've been unthinkable to foresee the circumstances this track would be released in when we were making it. Our frame of mind was so positive then, fresh off the back of our live tour, full of excitement for the next phase. 'Atlas' was our attempt at summing up some of the euphoric moments we experienced on that tour across those two years," explain Matt and Andy from Bicep.

"It feels like those moments are very far away for all of us right now, but we hope this serves as some form of distraction amidst all this chaos."

Having such an extensive live show catalogue has encouraged the artists to experiment with different elements of production, giving them a new way of approaching their workflow back into their new studio space.

"What we enjoyed most from playing tracks live is how flexible it was. For instance how an element from a track could be interpreted in many different ways and not be reliant on the rest of the original tune. Having the songs broken down in this way means we can really perform them in a drastically different way, based on the setting."

Bicep's last full length album was their debut self-titled record released in 2017 and since then they have been non-stop touring the brand with DJ sets and live shows, including last year's Let Them Eat Cake festival.

'Atlas' is out now digitally via Ninja Tune and the 12-inch version will be out on April 3. Listen below:

Words by EVIE WEILY

Image by Dan Medhurst

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