Orchards are back after a lengthy absence with Bicker. The Brighton band arrived on the tip of a certain worldwide pandemic, with the excellent Lovecore – an album we still love to this day. Having last heard from the trio back with the Trust Issues EP in 2021, this new album details everything that has happened since.
Noted as the “definitive break up album”, Bicker also meanders through topics of depression and chronic illness, as well as the inevitable loss and heartbreak. It certainly sounds pretty glum on paper, but Orchards deliver a perfect concoction of their Math Rock and Pop styles to stunning effect. Imagine Paramore’s After Laughter with a little extra going on. Real nice.
Kicking off with ‘Say It’, the song is a wonderful introduction to the album. Thick walls of guitars fill the room, before sinking into math-y, noodle-y melodies that immediately remind you of Orchards’ sound. It’s like reconnecting with an old friend, and Orchards take the chance to put forth their most honest output yet. Vocalist Lucy Evers leads the instrumental through some to-the-point statements. The crushing chorus fits the heaviness in the lyrics, and illustrates the impact that comes with saying nothing.
It leads nicely into the title track, which wastes no time in tearing down the walls. Its riff is heavily distorted and urgent – I really like how direct it is. It has already landed a spot on my running playlist. Lead single ‘I Feel Terrible’ harnesses that energy to channel its anger into a scathing performance that still contains its fair share of hooks.
‘Sweetie Pie’ is possibly the most straight-forward song on the album. It’s easy to listen chords and direct structure are sure to sit in the good books, but Orchards do throw lots of melodies and samples (including a Wilhelm Scream somewhere) into it to keep it engaging, and always sweet. It cuts a nice contrast against ‘Bethnal Green’, a song that brings an introspective side out of the trio. Its acoustic-lead instrumental and slower pace is not traditional, but certainly welcome.
‘Mug Song’ snaps into frame with an off-kilter groove that aims for the hips. It does a great job highlighting all of the things, big and small, that will be missed following the end of a relationship. How something minor can no longer be done, and how much of a void that creates in one’s life. ‘You Can Get Used To Anything’ closes the album with a bittersweet performance. Its synth-heavy instrumental stands out, adding a nostalgic touch that rounds things out nicely.
Bicker is a fantastic album. It holds a lot of tension and sadness inside, but reveals it through the filter of Orchards’ playful sound. The trio found the sweet spot in bringing their older and newer styles together, and while there are a lot of hooks to grab onto, they don’t take away from the impact of the lyrics. It is certainly worth the wait, although here’s hoping it won’t be as long to hear from Orchards again.
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