Comments on: Bicep Vs, You/Don’t EP

By: LWE’s Top 10 Downloads (From the Second Half) of 2012 | Little White Earbuds

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 17:39:47 +0000

[...] will surely tickle your fancy. And if not, hey, that’s OK too. We’ve had a number of discussions here on this site regarding the value of their music, so having it again would only prove redundant [...]

By: Henderick AKA Thelonious Funk

Henderick AKA Thelonious Funk — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 17:38:27 +0000

To be honest with you, I do not care much for this release… I think RA gave this EP too much respect…

By: Ripperton, Let’s Hope | Little White Earbuds

Ripperton, Let’s Hope | Little White Earbuds — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 15:01:48 +0000

[...] muscular effort. (Waka waka!) The last time we undertook an effort of the Belfast duo, the review was met with some consternation in regards to a critical stance taken against music that [...]

By: Jordan Rothlein

Jordan Rothlein — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 21:57:01 +0000

“Ok – So what you’re saying is – If you don’t make something totally new… don’t bother making it at all?”

No. Not to get all undergrad-y on you, but nothing is “totally new.” All music – both (what is in our view) good and bad – draws on what’s already in the ether. (“Totally new” would literally mean music that has no referent and is thus completely incoherent. We wouldn’t know what to do with it.) Some music stops there (or even short of it, e.g. http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=10780), but some of it pieces musical ideas together more creatively and substantially (e.g. http://www.littlewhiteearbuds.com/review/leon-vynehall-gold-language-ep/). In my view, “good music” is food for thought: it makes me hear music a little differently than I heard it previously.

By: littlewhiteearbuds

littlewhiteearbuds — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 21:40:54 +0000

If you read Jordan’s review, where he praised the quality of the production and various elements within, you’d know that’s not what he’s saying. He’s saying that there’s good and there’s great. This is good, not great.

You’re not going to get us to vouch for a binary of quality.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 21:35:25 +0000

Ok – So what you’re saying is – If you don’t make something totally new… don’t bother making it at all?

Could you please point me in the direction of something truly groundbreaking at the moment?

By: Jordan Rothlein

Jordan Rothlein — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 20:50:52 +0000

I think the point, both of this specific review and of this blog in general, is that dance music *can be more* than just “fun tracks that people enjoy dancing to.” Sure, there’s music that’s lots of fun to hear out, and these tunes certainly qualify. But there are artists who are doing more than just sufficing, who are making music that’s worthy of having a conversation about. If having an opinion that’s more than just “oh man, my feet are moving, five stars” makes me a “silly silly little techno snob,” then I’m proud to be one.

By: Anton Kipfel

Anton Kipfel — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 20:45:21 +0000

Jacob, LWE is a site which critically evaluates dance music. That LWE’s writers don’t love every single release is part and parcel of the site’s purpose.

The conversation I referred to is how every new release, or at least the ones that get any airtime, influences and is influenced by the rest. It’s where trends and movements come from.

And finally, people enjoy dancing to “fun” tracks by David Guetta, Tiesto, et al. If the only requirement for something to be good is that people dance to it, I’ve got a neighborhood polka band you should listen to ASAP.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 20:39:25 +0000

haha – you silly silly little techno snobs.

What “conversation” is this then?

From what i’ve picked up on, they make fun tracks that people enjoy dancing to – but that’s not that point anymore… is it?

By: Anton Kipfel

Anton Kipfel — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 19:25:28 +0000

I have to agree with Jordan here and take it a step further. I find Bicep pretty overrated, along the lines of a bunch of UK house producers who aren’t adding much to the conversation. Steffi’s remix on this EP is what makes it worth checking.