Bicep – Stash EP

Bicep – Stash EP

A standout early Bicep release, Stash EP was originally released on Aus Music in 2013, catalogue AUS1346. The four-track EP finds Belfast-born duo Andrew Ferguson and Matthew McBriar exploring a deeper, more atmospheric side of their sound, moving beyond the nostalgic '90s house influences that had helped establish their reputation through the Feel My Bicep blog and earlier productions.

The A-side opens with "Stash", a hypnotic house cut built around a rolling groove, shimmering synths and a deep, slightly rough-edged bassline. "Courtside Drama" follows with a more dreamlike and off-kilter feel, combining loose drums, floaty synths and an understated bassline. Contemporary reviews highlighted the EP's darker, deeper direction, with both tracks demonstrating Bicep's growing interest in more atmospheric club music.

On the flip, "Rise" adds more energy, combining punchy chords and percussion with a gradually intensifying arrangement. Its long-form structure gives the track plenty of room to build, making it particularly effective for extended DJ sets. The production also reflects Bicep's interest in the deeper end of classic house, with influences from New York and New Jersey house alongside their growing fascination with more experimental electronic music.

"The Game" closes the EP and is arguably its most distinctive track. Built around melancholy piano, restrained machine-driven percussion and sluggish bass, the track incorporates the famous speech of Omar Little from HBO's The Wire, giving it a cinematic and slightly sinister quality. Contemporary reviews singled it out as a striking departure from Bicep's earlier work, while still retaining enough rhythmic drive for the dancefloor.

Across Stash, Bicep draw on a broad range of influences, including King Street Sounds, classic deep house, Aphex Twin and The Wire. The result is a more lo-fi and exploratory record than some of their earlier releases, while retaining the warm analogue character, memorable grooves and meticulous production that would become increasingly important to their later work.

For collectors of Bicep, Aus Music, deep house, UK house and underground electronic music, Stash EP is an essential early release. It captures the duo at an important stage in their development, just before their self-titled debut album, and demonstrates why they had become such an influential force in modern house music.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Bicep – Stash
2. Bicep – Courtside Drama

Side B

1. Bicep – Rise
2. Bicep – The Game