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Latter day renaissance men Matt McBriar and Andy Ferguson collaborate on this release for Will Saul's Aus Music with Omar Odyssey, aka Serge Santiago and Ejeca, and produce in the process a subtle pair of garage/bass - inflected house hybrids that are as delicate as they are charming. It's quite an achievement in these days of fashionable, cross - pollination to put out a release like this that stands out that little bit more, but they've done it here, and that's partly because they've picked up the pace just perfectly.

It's the Bicep and Omar Odyssey collab I'll be reaching for first when things need a leg up in the atmospherics stakes, the original mix of 'You' to sustain the intensity and Steffi's remix to go down a little bit deeper to the other side. The beauty of this EP is that you can see, jigsaw-like, where each piece will fit and do a job. Personal preference aside, its functionality is admirable and transcendent. The light breakbeats and slightly distorted vocals of 'You' could sound very hackneyed in the wrong hands, but they have a delicious synth to back them up and coalesce at just the right time.

The kick in 'Don't Do It' patiently propels the track through a nether world of vocal stabs and deep space organ, which are caged in hi-hat. The olive on the martini is Steffi's remix though which, being the most overtly housey offering, also dives deeper and expands the scale to epic proportions. Elements of the original are clearly audible but are stretched and teased to ultimately become passengers on a journey into deep space.

In spite of its breadth, things never get too complicated and overreach themselves. Versatility is an overused word but this release typifies it and, in the right hands with the right timing, much damage can be wrought. Spanning the spectrum from nominal to lush, this release performs well on all levels.

Artist: Bicep Title: You / Don’t EP Label: Aus Music TracklistBicep & Ejeca - You (original Mix)Bicep & Omar Odyssey - Don't Do It Bicep & Ejeca - You (Steffi Remix) www.ausmusic.co.uk www.feelmybicep.com Our rating: 8/10