Brighton’s indie math-pop trio Orchards are back with their sophomore album Bicker; a bright and brilliant collection of songs that combine the glittering bombast of their early work laced with an underlying bittersweet attitude. Recorded with Jack Wilson (Fickle Friends), Bicker has all the hallmarks of a band that have been through a tumultuous few years: releasing their debut album in 2020 at the onset of the pandemic, break-ups, heartbreak, chronic illness, and depression. These themes strikingly play out in a similar style to Orchards’ previous work: featuring glorious swathes of infectious choruses and blissful, pastel-hued guitars that balance effortlessly between indie-pop sensibilities and math-rock inspired time signatures. This time around, although the sound is clear-cut, Orchards’ lyrics are anything but. The band are approaching 2025 as a new beginning — with a brand new album, full UK tour and festivals on the horizon — and have proven time and again with a determined attitude that they’re unstoppable. FFO Delta Sleep, CMAT, Tangled Hair, Kate Nash, Fickle Friends, Vukovi, Everything Everything