''Bicep'' is the self-titled debut album by electronic music duo

Bicep The biceps or biceps brachii (, "two-headed muscle of the arm") is a large muscle that lies on the front of the upper arm between the shoulder and the elbow. Both heads of the muscle arise on the scapula and join to form a single muscle belly ...

, released on

Ninja Tune Ninja Tune is an independent record label based in London, with a satellite office in Los Angeles. It was founded in 1990 by musicians Matt Black and Jonathan More, known collectively as Coldcut. The label was established as an outlet for Col ...

on 1 September 2017. Upon its release, ''Bicep'' went in at number 20 on the

UK Albums Chart The Official Albums Chart is the United Kingdom's industry-recognised national record chart for album, albums. Entries are ranked by sales and audio streaming. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the O ...

. The album received positive reviews on its release, with support from publications such as ''

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'', ''

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'', ''

Resident Advisor ''Resident Advisor'' (also known as ''RA'') is an online music magazine and community platform established in 2001 and dedicated to showcasing electronic music, artists and events across the globe. Its editorial team provides news, music and ev ...

'' and ''

Mixmag ''Mixmag'' is a British electronic dance and clubbing magazine published in London. Launched in 1983 as a print magazine, it has branched into dance events, including festivals and club nights. History The first issue of ''Mixmag'' was printe ...

''.

Reception

'' 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". ''

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

'' noted that the debut album "fitfully lives up to expectations", naming "Aura" as "one of the dance tracks of the year". ''

'' praised the "rich and varied LP", noting "They out do themselves on ''Bicep''... Contemporary, relevant and, most of all, exciting". ''

'' 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". The lead single, "Glue", was voted by the public as ''

DJ Mag ''DJ Magazine'' (also known as ''DJ Mag'') is a British monthly magazine dedicated to electronic dance music and DJs. Founded in 1991, the magazine is adapted for distribution in the United Kingdom, the United States, Spain, France, Italy, Lati ...

s (Best of British) Track of the Year. It also reached number 1 topping

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's Best Electronic of 2017. second in ''

''s 100 Best Tracks of 2017, and the Joe Wilson directed video came in at number three in ''

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'' magazine's ten best music videos of 2017.

Track listing

All tracks written by Andrew Ferguson and Matthew McBriar, except where noted. ;Notes *"Spring" contains a sample of "Chalte Chalte Yun Hi Koi" from the soundtrack of ''

Pakeezah Pakeezah (; ) is a 1972 Indian musical romantic drama written, directed, and produced by Kamal Amrohi. The film stars Meena Kumari as the eponymous lead, alongside Ashok Kumar and Raaj Kumar. It tells the story of Sahibjaan, a Lucknow-base ...

'', written by Ghulam Mohammed and

Kaifi Azmi Kaifi Azmi (born Athar Husain Rizvi; 14 January 1919 – 10 May 2002) was an Indian Urdu poet. He is remembered as the one who brought Urdu literature to Indian motion pictures. Together with Pirzada Qasim, Jaun Elia and others he participa ...

, and sung by

Lata Mangeshkar Lata Mangeshkar (; born Hema Mangeshkar; 28 September 1929 – 6 February 2022) was an Indian playback singer and occasional music composer. She is considered to be one of the greatest and most influential singers of the Indian subcontinent. He ...

. *"Rain" contains a sample of "Husn Hazir Hai" from the soundtrack of ''

Laila Majnu ''Layla and Majnun'' ( "Layla's Mad Lover"; ) is an old story of Arab origin, about the 7th-century Arabian poet Qays ibn al-Mulawwah and his lover Layla bint Mahdi (later known as Layla al-Aamiriya). "The Layla-Majnun theme passed from A ...

'', written by

Madan Mohan Madanamohana () is an epithet of the Hindu deity Krishna. It translates as, "he whose charm (''mohana'') bewilders even the god of love ('' madana'')". The epithet describes the powerful nature of the attraction for the deity from his devotees, e ...

Jaidev Jaidev (3 August 1918 – 6 January 1987; born Jaidev Verma) was a music composer in Hindi films, most known for his work in films: '' Hum Dono'' (1961), '' Reshma Aur Shera'' (1971), '' Prem Parbat'' (1973), '' Gharaonda'' (1977) and '' Ga ...

and

Sahir Ludhianvi Abdul Hayee (8 March 1921 – 25 October 1980), popularly known by his pen name (takhallus) Sahir Ludhianvi, was an Indian poet who wrote primarily in Urdu in addition to Hindi. He is regarded as one of the greatest film lyricists and poet ...

, and sung by Lata Mangeshkar.

Personnel

;Bicep *Andrew Ferguson *Matthew McBriar

Charts

Certifications

References

{{Authority control 2017 debut albums Bicep (duo) albums Ninja Tune albums