Bloc Party "Alpha Games" (2022)

Alpha Games

release date: Apr. 21, 2022

format: digital (12 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,68]

producer: Nick Launay, Adam Greenspan

label: Infectious Music - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Day Drinker" - 2. "Traps" - 3. "You Should Know the Truth" - 4. "Callum Is a Snake" - 6. "The Girls Are Fighting" - 7. "Of Things Yet to Come" - 8. "Sex Magik" - 9. "By Any Means Necessary"

6th studio album from Bloc Party comes more than six years after Hymns (Jan. 2016) and is made with Launay and Greenspan - a somewhat remarkable producer duo. In the early 80s Nick Launay was already a producer for Virgin Prunes, Killing Joke, Gang of Four and Australian bands like Birthday Party, Midnight Oil, and The Church. He later produced for INXS and The Armoury Show, and in the 90s and into the new Millennium he produced for David Byrne and Nick Cave. In comparison, Greenspan appears a somewhat more unknown producer who has worked as sound engineer for Arcade Fire (on The Suburbs) and he has produced for indie rock bands such as Maxïmo Park and The Veils. Together, they have worked on the critically acclaimed Push the Sky Away (2013) by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, where Launay is credited as co-producer and Greenspan was responsible for mixing the album, but they have since then functioned as a producer-duo on several releases.

Alpha Games shows once again that Bloc Party is not an easy act to bring to a halt, even though several times over the years there have been rumors that the group faced a final career break. In the past it has led to changes in the group's line-up, which has supported the rumours, but at the same time there always seems to have been a stable core of songwriter and lead vocalist Kele and the band's musical focal point in guitarist Russell Lissack. The album Hymns was made as a duo-project after being abandoned by first the group's longtime drummer Matt Tong and later, shortly before recording the album, bassist Gordon Moakes. Kele and Lissack carried out studio recordings with studio musicians and subsequently succeeded firstly by filling the vacant seat as drummer with a quite young Louise Bartle and then also the role of bassist thanks to American musician Justin Harris, who featured on Hymns as studio musician, and now, six years down a new path, it is still this constellation that makes up Bloc Party.

Musically speaking, the group has moved in many directions since the starting point as an energetic post-punk revival act, and for fans and critics the band has behaved like a fish in water - a band you could never really know for sure where to place, or where they where they were going - which may have been one of the reasons for lukewarm reviews from confused reviewers, but releases in various styles may also have confused fans. On the other hand, you may argue that very much like front figure Kele, who has himself released albums characterized by quite different styles, such as electronic dance-pop and then even singer / songwriter folk, Bloc Party has insisted on making exactly the music they themselves felt was just right at a certain point. When they thundered out on the scene as one of the hottest names alongside American band Interpol, the easiest thing would have been to continue in the same groove, but no, they immediately plunged into another direction, and from that into another, etc., all while their stylistic dribbles hitched many off - and perhaps in the process itself both lost a drummer and a bassist.

Alpha Games offers a revisit of Bloc Party classic in the sense that the post-punk revival element is back, but not in a pure rock-universe, but in a more nuanced picture with elements drawn from a bunch of other styles. You'll find alt. dance and indie rock in a mix with the addition of a fingertip of electronic without losing the sensation of a complete expression. There is recycling and inspiration from their own previous releases, but it all still sounds like a brand new album that stands on its own feet. In many ways it sounds like an album they could have released in the wake of the great Intimacy (2008), but it doesn't just work that way and without Four (2012) and Hymns, Alpha Games would never have resulted in the album we now face. Justin Harris and Louise Bartle have played that many times together with Kele and Lissack over the past years that they now contribute to a new chapter in the band's long history, which nevertheless 'only' counts six studio albums.

Alpha Games is already an album that (once again) divides the waters. Some critics (Pitchfork) call it a mixed pleasure and cling a bit too much to Kele's lyrical universe, while others (Clash and PopMatters) praise the album's musical qualities. To my ears, the album mostly gives good reason to wish for more releases in the future, knowing that with Bloc Party no one can really tell what will happen. But until then, enjoy this energetic outing, which is even something as conservative as the album original fans could wish for.

An exciting and recommended effort.

[ 👍allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, Clash, PopMatters 4 / 5, 👎Pitchfork 5,2 / 10 stars ]

Kele "The Waves Pt. 1" (2021)

The Waves Pt. 1

release date: May 28, 2021

format: digital

[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,18]

producer: Kele Okereke

label: Kola Records / !K7 - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Message From the Spirit World" - 4. "How to Beat the Lie Detector" - 6. "Nineveh" - 8. "The Patriots" - 9. "Intention" - 10. "Smalltown Boy" - 11. "From a Place of Love" - 12. "The Heart of the Wave"

5th studio album by Kele (aka Kele Okereke, whose full name is Kelechukwu Rowland Okereke) following 2042 (Nov. 2019). Unlike most of his releases, Kele himself is credited as producer on this, as was also the case on his second album out Trick (Oct. 2014).

Unsurprisingly, the album comes with COVID-19 as a theme and as a starting point for the creation of an album, which offers 13 cuts and a total playing length of just under 50 minutes. Nor is it any surprise that Kele presents us with new styles and a mix of all possible inspirations. It's a near natural habit of his that the basic tone of any new album is from a new perspective - much in the same manner as we've come to understand the soundscape in Bloc Party. On this new release, there is less, or practically no room for alt. dance, funk, or disco. Instead, the album is somewhat subdued without approaching a bare folk rock and singer / songwriter orientation, as the one he cultivated on Fatherland (Oct. 2017). It's a type of quiet indie pop and alt. folk with the narrative at the center of the compositions. Where 2042 presented us with a series of tales about future English society, The Waves Pt. 1 are stories about Kele's present time. It's about being a parent, living in a relationship, and it's about small and big changes affecting us all.

Nationally, the album has been met by a somewhat lukewarm reception, but that's not something new for Kele personally, nor for his experiences concerning album releases with Bloc Party.

It's not exactly an album of a lot of ear bangers or melodic hooks, and it's generally a more quiet and introspective Kele as opposed to what you might have expected. It may appear as a demanding album, where the listener must take an active part in an attempt to create his/her own understanding. My first impression had me think of it as an off the target album, but it's not necessarily all bad because it makes demands on the listener. As the title indicates, one could expect The Waves Pt. 2.

Not recommended.

[ The Guardian 2 / 5, NME, Mojo 3 / 5, Clash, Narc Magazine 4 / 5 stars ]

Kele "2042" (2019)

2042

release date: Nov. 8, 2019

format: digital (16 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,62]

producer: Gethin Pearson

label: Kola / !K7 - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Jungle Bunny" - 3. "Let England Burn" - 4. "St. Kaepernick Wept" - 6. "My Business" - 7. "Ceiling Games" - 9. "Between Me and My Maker" - 13. "Catching Feelings" - 16. "Backburner"

4th studio release by Kele, who once again have returned to stand by his first name only, in contrast to Fatherland (Oct. 2017), which was released under the name Kele Okereke. There has now been room for a total of sixteen tracks and a total playing length of 61 minutes. The album follows four months after he and the band Bloc Party released the live album Silent Alarm Live (Jul. 2019) recorded during the band's European tour in 2018.

Stylistically, he's back in dance mode with an uptempo release using various electronic styles as alt. dance, neo-soul, funk, and disco mixed with indie pop, and a sound which isn't far from that of Bloc Party. Furthermore, he's more political than heard before, and the title apparently alludes to a collection of tracks revolving around an image of England in the year 2042. The album received fine reviews in the UK but didn't chart on the albums chart.

2042 is another fine example of Kele's musical skills, where he picks from all sorts of genres and styles to produce his own personal mix. In that way, stylistically and in terms of form, the album reminds me somewhat of his solo debut The Boxer (2010), without speaking of mere recycling. At times in the past, he hasn't always been able to hit the target with his releases but with 2042, I think he's back on track and the album simply appears to be his best and clearly most exciting album since his exiting debut and is therefore worthy of a recommendation.

[ NME, DIY 4 / 5 stars ]

Kele Okereke "Fatherland" (2017)

Fatherland

release date: Oct. 6, 2017

format: digital

[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,18]

producer: Justin Harris

label: BMG - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 2. "Streets Been Talkin' " - 3. "You Keep on Whispering His Name" - 5. "Grounds for Resentment (feat. Olly Alexander)" - 7. "Do U Right" - 8. "Versions of Us (feat. Corinne Bailey Rae)" - 9. "Portrait"

3rd solo studio album by Kele Okereke following Trick from 2014. Since then, and together with Bloc Party they released Hymns in 2016.

Fatherland is the first time Kele releases music using some of his surname, and it's also a markedly different album from his previous releases. Before Kele released any music as a solo artist, Bloc Party had flirted with the dance genre, but Kele went much further into that scene on his two previous solo albums and on several EPs, but Fatherland contains exclusively folk-inspired, singer / songwriter, and vocal jazz, and arranged with acoustic guitar, piano, and wind instruments.

Generally, the album received positive reviews, however, without leading to great sales numbers. Perhaps his previous release with its relatively low placement at No. #99 on the albums chart prompted a change in style?. His debut had fared better reaching a position as No. #20. Who knows, in any case this is a completely different release, where Kele does his best as a genuine folk singer. If you are able to forget his earlier uptempo and danceable melodies, Fatherland has its own qualities without sounding particularly original for that matter, and this latter sensation is probably my biggest complaint about the album.

Not really great and not all bad either.

[ allmusic.com, Clash, Drowned in Sound 3,5 / 5, The Guardian 3 / 5 stars ]

Bloc Party "Hymns" (2016)

Hymns
release date: Jan. 29, 2016
format: cd (LTD.)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]
producer: Tim Bran and Roy Kerr
label: Infectious Music - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "The Love Within" - 2. "Only He Can Heal Me" (live) - 5. "Fortress" - 6. "Different Drugs" - 7. "Into the Earth" (4 / 5) (live) - 8. "My True Name" - 9. "Virtue" - 10. "Exes"

5th full-length studio album by London-founded Bloc Party is the band's first album in 3½ years and it has been made with a new producer-duo of Bran / Kerr, who are both associated with the dance scene. Four from 2012 (also released after a long hiatus) was the last album in the original formation. Since then, drummer Matt Tong left the band in 2013 and in early 2015 also bassist Gordon Moakes left the band, which for a short time was reduced to a duo consisting only of singer Kele Okereke and guitarist Russell Lissack, who went on to record this album using drum programming and with performances by studio musicians. After recording the album, however, the band announced its new line-up after recording the album in Aug. 2015 with the addition of two new members: American bassist (and multi-instrumentalist) Justin Harris, who also plays bass on the album as session musician, and British drummer Louise Bartle, who was only 21 when she joined the band.
The Limited Deluxe Edition contains an additional four tracks.
More than three years means a lot of change - especially if one considers how this band has always been altering its sound in a matter of months. My initial verdict - well, never mind that 'cause I already knew it would take more than one listen with a new Bloc Party album. Let's just say, I wasn't overwhelmed, but, and that's really the bottom line: it's way better than my initial verdict told me. Stylistically, it's hard to pin out, but to narrow things in, it's indietronica, synth pop and alt. dance-like, but what's really new is that it's also neo-soul. Drums and guitars have been reduced considerably. It seems evident that Lissack and Kele have rehearsed on synths to make a more electronic-sounding album than ever before, and in a way it does share similarities with Kele's solo works - e.g. his fine full-length solo Boxer from 2010. Having said that, it still comes out as a more laid back album with focus on songwriting. Lissacks roaring guitar is gone - here it's mostly rhythm guitar and basic drum- and bass-lines with synths and keyboards supporting Kele's songs. Despite not reaching the level of the predecessor, it's still a worthwhile and fine album.
[ allmusic.com, Mojo, Q Magazine 3 / 5, NME, The Guardian 4 / 5 stars ]

Don't quite agree but... 👉[ Bloc Party – all the albums ranked, worst to best (NME) ]

Kele "Trick" (2014)

Trick
release date: Oct. 13, 2014
format: cd
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,68]
producer: Kele Okereke with Alex Brady and Tom Belton
label: Lilac Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "First Impressions" - 2. "Coasting" - 9. "Silver and Gold"

2nd full-length solo album by Kele (Okereke) and his first release on his own label, Lilac Records. The 10 track album continues down the electronic and alt. dance path that he has proven to prefer as a solo artist, which also explains the influences one may find on the last three Bloc Party albums.
I don't find this as daring or intriguing as his fine solo debut Boxer from 2010. On Trick he stays on the main road of disco-influenced house or deep house, and I think it somewhat disappoints by staying much in the same mode without much to offer than simple drum and bass-backed compositions. In fact the tracks are so similar that they turn out as mere remixes of the same idea, or old Bloc Party tunes, which doesn't help much on the impression of the various tracks or the album in general.
Not recommended.

Bloc Party "The Nextwave Sessions" (2013) (ep)

The Nextwave Sessions, ep

release date: Aug. 12, 2013

format: digital

[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,78]

producer: Dan Carey

label: Frenchkiss Records - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Ratchet" - 2. "Obscene" - 4. "French Exit" - 4. "Montreal" - 5. "Children of the Future"

5-track ep by Bloc Party and the last release to feature the original line-up as first drummer Matt Tong left the band shortly after this and in 2015 also bassist Gordon Moakes desided to leave.

Stylistically, it's electroindie, indie pop... something there-about. First impression hasn't changed much. That's really something new! I've always found that I needed time to adjust to the band's new style, but here without much luck, I'm stuck with something that lacks my interest. Without being near great "French Exit" is the best track, and perhaps one could argue that it shows us how the unit is left without new flourishing ideas.

Bloc Party "Four" (2012)

Four
release date: Aug. 20, 2012
format: cd (LTD.)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,78]
producer: Alex Newport
label: Frenchkiss Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "So He Begins to Lie" (4 / 5) (live in Sydney) - 2. "3x3" (live) - 3. "Octopus" - 4. "Real Talk" (4 / 5) (live) - 5. "Kettling" (5 / 5) (live) - 6. "Day Four" (live) - 8. "V.A.L.I.S." - 10. "Truth" - 11. "The Healing" - 14. "Leaf Skeleton" (Bonus Track)

4th studio album release by Bloc Party precisely four years after Intimacy (2008) welcomes noise rock and grindcore producer Alex Newport. Now, Bloc party has sent out a new "remix" album after each new studio album, so the easy title here simply refers to their full length studio efforts. Since the predecessor, rumours have suggested that the band had come to an end, that they were left with no record contract, that all but the lead vocalist would start a new band, etc. What remains is that the band members have spent time working with other artists, and vocalist Kele Okereke has had time to release his fine solo debut album, The Boxer (2010) and an ep, The Hunter (2011).
Time has passed but the style is still alt. dance and alt. rock. It's not a move back to their initial post-punk but several tracks have a more hard rock attitude than heard before, and it suits them well. You really have to hand it to these guys: they are blasting instrumentalists, wow! I still love their soundscape - the way they are able to build up a wall of sound that takes you in all directions before throwing itself off the cliffs at Land's End. Despite their play with synth and alt. dance, Russell Lissack's guitar has still a very prominent place in their sound, which makes me think of inspiration in John Frusciante ("Real Talk"), Smashing Pumpkins ("Kettling"), and Deftones ("We Are Not Good People"). I sometimes wish they would spent a bit more energy on the sound they stumble on / end up finding and producing, but they're always on the go to something and somewhere else. So what's next? For all I know, it can't be bad. Bloc Party has often made surprising moves and released singles, I didn't enjoy all that much, but their studio albums has not yet disappointed!
The Limited Edition offers two bonus tracks and 'an extensive 32 pages booklet.' They have made it a tradition of theirs to make these Limited Edition releases issued simultaneously as regular versions - and yes, they may just offer another two tracks, but very often at the same price as normal issues, so I always purchase these.
Recommended.
[ allmusic.com, The Observer, Drowned in Sound 4 / 5, Slant 2,5 / 5 stars ]

Kele "The Hunter EP" (2011) (ep)

The Hunter EP, ep
release date: Oct. 31, 2011
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,90]
producer: XXXChange

label: Wichita - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "What Did I Do?" (feat. Lucy Taylor) - 2. "Release Me" - 3. "Devotion" - 4. "Goodbye Horses" - 5. "Cable's Goodbye" - 6. "Love as a Weapon" - 7. "You Belong to Someone Else"

7-track ep by Kele, lead vocalist of Bloc Party with four tracks produced by XXChange (aka Alex Epton) (tracks #1, #3, #6 & #7); track #2 by RAC (aka André Allen Anjos) & QNESS (aka Qhubani Ndlovu, South African DJ); track #4 by Daniel Lindegren & Fred Falke, and track #5 by Kele. This is his second solo album not counting single releases. Style-wise, it's a move into a bolder dance-pop universe. My initial response was disorientation and a negative feeling, but as I have come to learn with Bloc Party, new releases rarely deliver the expected and The Hunter EP has something else to offer than meets the "eye". Met on its conditions as a dance music release, this is not entirely bad but it doesn't present any great tracks either.
Not recommended.

Kele "The Boxer" (2010)

The Boxer [debut]
release date: Jun. 21, 2010
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,70]
producer: XXXChange (aka Alex Brady Epton)
label: Wichita Recordings - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Walk Tall" (4 / 5) - 2. "On the Lam" (4 / 5) - 3. "Tenderoni" (4,5 / 5) - 4. "The Other Side" (3 / 5) - 5. "Everything You Wanted" (4 / 5) (live at The BBC) - 6. "New Rules" (3,5 / 5) - 7. "Unholy Thoughts" (3 / 5) - 8. "Rise" (3,5 / 5) - 9. "All the Things I Could Never Say" (4 / 5) - 10. "Yesterday's Gone" (3,5 / 5)

Solo studio album debut by Kele (aka Kele Okereke), frontman and vocalist of Bloc Party, is released after Kele in early 2010 openly declared to be gay, and the songs on the album deal with aspects and consequences of homosexuality in modern Britain.
Bloc Party surely has divided people and music fans in Britain and elsewhere. The band came out on top of the new retro post-punk wave (post punk revival), which flurished on both sides of the Atlantic. The band's initial indie rock style was the new frontier and Bloc Party had a massive hit with "Banquet", which had me fall for the quartet, and because of that everyone expected the bond to post-punk as their style - sort of: "That's it then! Interpol elaborate on the style from New York and Bloc Party attack it from London". But Bloc Party quickly side-stepped and sought out new playgrounds and it took me a while getting used to the band's experimentation with electronica but eventually I found huge pleasure from it. Now, Kele goes even further on this, which naturally is less guitar-based, but it still holds water, even as an indie rock combo with alt. dance, glitch pop in an electronic compound. It's really addictive when played loud. "Tenderoni" was initially a strange song but after a few listens at high volume, I really got into it, and after fifty and more, it's just a monster of a track.
Recommended.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5, NME 3,5 / 5 stars ]

Kele "Tendoroni (Remixes)" (2010) (single)

Tenderoni (Remixes), single (promo)

release date: Jun. 21, 2010

format: digital

[single rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,52]

producer: diverse

label: Polydor - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Tenderoni" (Original) (4,5 / 5) - 2. "Tenderoni (Kris Menace Remix)" (3 / 5) - 3. "Tenderoni (XXXchange Dub)" - 4. "Tenderoni (Jokers of the Scene Remix)" - 5. "Tenderoni (Dam Mantle Remix)" (3 / 5) - 6. "Tenderoni (Larry Tee & Beckwith Remix)" (3 / 5)

Promotion single by Kele issued simultaneously with the release of his full-length debut The Boxer. This version contains two of the songs from the original 3-track single released Jun. 14th with the addition of four other remixes.

Kele "Tenderoni" (2010) (single)

Tenderoni, cd single

release date: Jun. 14, 2010
format: cd
[single rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,66]
producer: XXXchange [aka Alex Brady Epton]
label: Wichita - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Tenderoni" (4,5 / 5) - 2. "One Day of Strength" (3,5 / 5) - 3. "Tenderoni (Larry Tee & Beckwith Remix)" (3 / 5)

1st single release from the forthcoming solo album by Kele Okereke, lead vocalist in Bloc Party.

~ ~ ~

KeleOkereke: (aka Kelechukwu Rowland Okereke- full name) born Oct. 13, 1981, born and raised in Liverpool, England. Lead vocalist and rythm guitarist in indie pop, alt. rock, post-punk revival act Bloc Party (from early 1999). Kele's first solo releases were mainly exclusively for the electronic scene of alt. dance and synth pop. He has however, also made the cleaner singer / songwriter and folk rock album Fatherland (2017).

~ ~ ~

Bloc Party "Intimacy Remixed" (2009)

Intimacy Remixed (remix)
release date: May 11, 2009
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5]

Tracklist 1. "Ares (Villians Remix)" - 2. "Mercury (Hervé Is in Disarray Remix)" - 3. "Halo (We Have Band Remix)" - 4. "Biko (Mogwai Remix)" - 5. "Trojan Horse (John B Remix)" - 6. "Signs (Armand Van Helden Remix)" - 7. "One Month Off (Filthy Dukes Remix)" - 8. "Zephyrus (Phase One Remix)" - 9. "Talons (Phones RIP Remix)" (4 / 5) - 10. "Better Than Heaven (No Age Remix)" - 11. "Ion Square (Banjo or Freakout Remix)" - 12. "Letter to My Son (Gold Panda Remix)" - 13. "Your Visits Are Getting Shorter (Double D Remix)"

Remix album by Bloc Party. Again, a remix release of their latest studio album. This time I actually find it a welcome release. Stylistically, the band has moved into electronic and alt. dance, which makes this more of a digestible remix. Kele obviously has a certain something for club and dance, and this only adds to their new style. "Talons" is still a great track in this outfit.

Bloc Party "Talons" (2008) (single)

Talons, single
release date: Oct. 20, 2008
format: digital
[single rate: 4 / 5] [3,82]
producer: Paul Epworth

label: Wichita - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Talons" (5 / 5) - 2. "Talons (Phones R.I.P Mix)" (4 / 5) - 3. "Talons (XXXChange Remix)" (3,5 / 5) - 4. "Talons (Moody Boyz Remix)" (3,5 / 5)

A single from the recent album Intimacy, and what a track! The original version is easily the best, and the first mix is a rather good remix.

Bloc Party "Intimacy" (2008)

Intimacy
release date: Aug. 21, 2008
format: cd (LTD. O-Card)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,08]
producer: Jacknife Lee & Paul Epworth
label: Wichita - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Ares" (4 / 5) - 2. "Mercury" - 3. "Halo" (4 / 5) - 4. "Biko" (4 / 5) - 5. "Trojan Horse" (4 / 5) - 6. "Signs" - 7. "One Month Off" - 8. "Zephyrus" - 9. "Talons" (5 / 5) [PLAY LOUD!!] (live) - 10. "Better Than Heaven" - 11. "Ion Square" - *12. "Letter to My Son" - *13. "Your Visits Are Getting Shorter" (4,5 / 5)
*Bonus track on Limited Edition

3rd studio album by Bloc Party follows 1½ years after A Weekend in the City (Feb. 2007) and it already appears as an attempt to combine the sound of Silent Alarm produced by Paul Epworth and the 2007-album produced by Jacknife Lee simply by putting the two producers together for this one. The two are aside from production, also credited programming and keyboards. The Limited Edition contains two bonus tracks of which the last simply happens to be the second best song on the album.
The album doesn't sound like either of the two previous studio albums and it reveals a combo of electropop, alt. dance, and indie rock. Although, it doesn't sound alike, it's still very much the natural progression from A Weekend in the City with more electro and more dance, however, they're still able to incorporate Russell Lissack's guitar skills - as he once again demonstrate his abilities as an exceptional instrumentalist - just listen to "Talons" - that song is like a rocket launch or a flame thrower. I just love the sound of that guitar and it makes me wanna go out and buy one again. It's Bloc Party when they're best: "And when it co-o-o-mes, it'll feel like a kiss"... The first 100 times I was really annoyed by the simpleness and repetitious "Mercury", but today I find it pretty damn good, and overall it's truly nice to witness these guys' change of style. Instead of copying other post-punk revivalists and indie rock bands, these four guys go their own way and by doing that, they lose lots of fans and critics but they sort of say: "we don't make music for you - we do this now!" And I applaud their attitude and their will to experimentation.
Highly recommended.

2008 Favourite releases: 1. Sigur Rós Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust - 2. Bloc Party Intimacy - 3. Alanis Morissette Flavors of Entanglement

Bloc Party "Flux" (2007) (single)

Flux, single
release date: Nov. 25, 2007
format: digital
[single rate: 3 / 5] [2,83]
producer: Jacknife Lee
label: Wichita - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Flux" (4 / 5) - 2. "Flux (live at The Theater at Madison Square Garden)" (2 / 5) - 3. "Emma Kate's Accident" (2,5 / 5)

A single release by Bloc Party that didn't make it to the band's 2007 album, and no wonder! Once you think you've understood what these guys do they are in a completely new position doing something... else. At this point fans are complaining how Bloc Party is a scam, and how disappointed everyone is that they do not produce... Or: what was expected, that is. Because fact is, Bloc Party came out as a super-hyped band that should pick up music where Joy Division let go, as a British competitor and leader of post-punk revival. Think twice, these guys may have thought. The second studio album, A Weekend in the City (2007) showed us how much they are on the move exploring their limits. Flux... is again a step into new territory. This is experimenting with electronic synth pop and alt. dance. It took me more than a few attempts but then again, I found it more than just experiments. And once again, one need to hear their music played LOUD! "Flux" alone is a great single track, which is enough to buy the single, but the remainders are mere fillers.

Best of 2007:Bloc Party "A Weekend in the City" (2007)

Limited Edition

A Weekend in the City
release date: Feb. 5, 2007
format: cd + dvd (LTD. 2-disc Edition)
[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,42]
producer: Jacknife Lee
label: Wichita - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Song for Clay (Disappear Here)" (4 / 5) - 3. "Waiting for The 7.18" (5 / 5) (live on Later) - 4. "The Prayer" - 5. "Uniform" (4 / 5) - 7. "Where Is Home?" (4 / 5) - 8. "Kreuzberg" - 10. "Sunday" (4 / 5)

2nd studio album by Bloc Party and what a fine follow-up to the great debut produced by Irish musician and producer Jacknife Lee. My first impression was "The decent and difficult second album to an impressive start." But after a few listens it started growing and unfolding, and I realised it's one of those few releases that people will remember - it's simply great!
I find it strange to read negative or at least unfavourable critics draw attention to 'poor' or 'bad' lyrics. Did this band ever explicitly claim to walk in the [uninspiring] footsteps of Bob Dylan or other critically acclaimed songwriters with more textual matter than musical such? I don't think so. Some people have a notorious point-of-view that music should (always) be measured on poetic grounds, and accounted for its political, existential or whatever motifs. I happen to adore some music for one reason and other musical manifestations for other reasons, AND not rarely for 'shape of sound' or actual musicality - I love the 'form' of music by Joy Division / New Order, Kitchens of Distinction and a whole bunch of others including Bloc Party. So please stop nagging about poor lyrics, these are not ordinary poems!
Catchy lines in songs like "Waiting for the 7.18", "The Prayer" and "Sunday" ['I love you in the morning'], all neat and sweet, and in "Song for Clay", "Uniform", and "Where Is Home?" [with a diabolic Joy Division-like rhythm section => who said "Atrocity Exhibition"?] - all rough, strong and intense. Silent Alarm (2005) was a very strong debut but where its songs seem separate single compositions - not unlike tracks you'd find on a compilation - this album is much more of a whole, with the single titles as pieces that make up the band's statement - their finest work of art, so far, as of 2007.
The Limited 2-disc Edition contains the regular album as disc 1 and a dvd as extra / bonus material featuring the two videos "The Prayer" and "I Still Remember". To me, this is without ant doubt the best album of 2007.
[ allmusic.com, NME 4 / 5, The Guardian 3 / 5 stars ]

2007 Favourite releases: 1. Bloc Party A Weekend in the City - 2. Band of Horses Cease to Begin - 3. Natasja I Danmark er jeg født

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Bloc Party "Silent Alarm Remixed" (2005)

Silent Alarm Remixed (remix)
release date: Aug. 29, 2005
format: cd
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]

producer: various

label: Wichita - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Like Eating Glass (Ladytron Mix)" (2 / 5) - 2. "Helicopter (Sheriff Whitey Mix)" (2,5 / 5) - 3. "Positive Tension (Jason Clark Remix)" (2 / 5) - 4. "Banquet (Phones Disco Edit)" (3,5 / 5) - 5. "Blue Light (Engineers Anti-Gravity Mix)" (2 / 5) - 6. "She's Hearing Voices (Erol Alkan's Calling Your Dub Reworking)" (1,5 / 5) - 7. "This Modern Love (Dave Pianka's Making Time Remix)" (1,5 / 5) - 8. "The Pioneers (M83 Remix)" (2 / 5) - 9. "Price of Gas (Automato Remix)" (1,5 / 5) - 10. "So Here We Are (Four Tet Remix)" (2 / 5) - 11. "Luno (Bloc Party vs Death From Above 1979)" (1,5 / 5) - 12. "Plans (Replanned by Moqwai)" (2,5 / 5) - 13. "Compliments (Shibuyaka Remix by Nick Zinner)" (2,5 / 5)

A remix album by Bloc Party of the band's debut released 6 months after the original album. Now, why was this ever necessary? I bought the album without listening to it first. Having heard only good music from this band, I just wanted everything they released, but this was a waste of money. Everything they had done so far was in the spirit of the new post-punk revival wave. Even the cover is a 'repro' of the artworks by Peter Saville and Joy Division but here the music goes elsewhere. In retrospect, it only signals that the band is much more than just post-punk but the result is not good, although a lesser version of "Banquet" doesn't manage to ruin the song. Almost all tracks are club dance remixes of every song on the original album with a few daring exceptions.

Bloc Party "Silent Alarm" (2005)

Silent Alarm [debut]
release date: Feb. 14, 2005
format: cd + dvd (reissue, LTD.)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,06]
producer: Paul Epworth and Bloc Party
label: Wichita - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Like Eating Glass" (4 / 5) (live on Jools Holland) - 2. "Helicopter" (live on Jools Holland) - 3. "Positive Tension" - 4. "Banquet" (5 / 5) (live on Conan) - 5. "Blue Light" - 6. "She's Hearing Voices" - 7. "This Modern Love" - 8. "The Pioneers" (4 / 5) (live) - 9. "Price of Gasoline" - 10. "So Here We Are" (4 / 5) - 11. "Luno" - 12. "Plans" - 13. "Compliments" - *14. "Little Thoughts" - *15. "Two More Years" (live)

* Bonus tracks on Limited Edition

Studio album debut by Bloc Party in a reissue from Oct. 2005 with the inlusion of their most recent hit single "Two More Years" and extensive video footage on DVD. The album is the much anticipated and hyped full length album originally released some 9 months following the 6-track ep Bloc Party (Sep. 2004). I had heard the track "Banquet" over and over again just waiting for the album to arrive, and it didn't quite satisfy my expectations although, I found it one the best releases that year, and Bloc Party the most promising band I had come across in a long time. I immediately purchased the cd release, which contained the unlisted 'hidden' track "Every Time Is the Last Time", figuring at the end after a 5 minute silent part, but after they released the single "Two More Years" (Oct. 2005), a 2-disc Limited Edition of Silent Alarm was now issued and I also purchased that and then resold the original cd without paying attention to the fact that the unlisted end-track had been skipped on this new issue.
Anyway, the album came out to critical acclaim and soon received a number of nominations, including the 2005 Mercury Prize and it won the NME Best Album award, and went straight to number #3 on the national album charts list.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]

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Bloc Party "Tulips" (2005) (single)

Tulips, single
release date: Jan. 25, 2005
format: digital
[single rate: 4 / 5] [3,75]

Tracklist: 1. "Tulips" (4 / 5) - 2. "Tulips (Club Version)" (3,5 / 5)

A single release from Bloc Party with an A-side single that somehow didn't make it to the album, which I never understood as it's an amazing track. It had been included on the ep Little Thoughts (Dec. 2004) and then found its way to a single release. Maybe it's too soft and mellow compared to the other tracks of the debut? But in that case, I guess they wouldn't have included Two More Years on the re-release in October.