[Tamed Musiq]

For the sake of sparing you a limp stream of Fozzie Bear-indebted punnery, let’s go ahead and get it out of our system: the Bicep remix of Ripperton’s “Let’s Hope” is a jacked-up workout and a venerably 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 doesn’t necessarily pave new ground — innovation versus functionality. A worthwhile discussion that is weighed within each passing post on this site. But when you have a group like Bicep who wear their influences so brashly upon their sleeves, one has to wonder whether they even bother considering it themselves. Their take on “Let’s Hope” exists in well-charted rave territory, not dissimilar to the remix they turned out for Blondes earlier this year. But it churns with such a ferocity as to render any nitpicking frivolous. Surely, house this grandiose exists in droves, quite possibly sporting this identical piano progression even, but the momentum herein suggests absolute indifference toward a critical dissension. “Merciless” is a descriptor that comes to mind.

Ripperton’s original is markedly more tame while remaining comparably derivative. Scaling back the start, the Swiss producer opts to amble out the gate, galloping toward a sustained peak, indirectly correlating with Bicep’s tough jump. Epic in scope, the 11-plus-minute runtime suggests a cosmic expedition, although the end result falls a bit short. It’s reminiscent of some of Lindstrøm’s more club-centric fare, yet slightly less cerebral. To its credit though, in the double-digit times I’ve listened in advance of penning this review, my opinion of the yelping female on the hook went from innate indifference to finding myself eventually belting along with considerable enthusiasm. If I’m ever fortunate to hear it rinsed on an enveloping sound system, I’m sure I’ll be as enthused, might even throw a hand or two in the air. And really, isn’t getting people moving half the battle?