2008 Woodie Awards
Bloc Party showcases electronic sound in new album
CHRIS ANTHONY
Issue date: 8/27/08 Section: Variety
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In a live online chat on Aug. 18, Kele Okereke and crew announced that their third album, "Intimacy," would be available three days later.
Despite the short notice, fans were able to pre-order a digital copy of the CD that was released Aug. 21. The physical copy of "Intimacy" will be available in the United States on Oct. 28.
The album was produced by the masterminds behind Bloc Party's first two albums, Paul Epworth ("Silent Alarm") and Jacknife Lee ("A Weekend in the City").
"Intimacy" features both the brash, raw emotion of "Silent Alarm" and the refined sounds of "A Weekend in the City," while also incorporating a new electronic style that suits Bloc Party well.
After fans expressed disappointment with the underwhelming "A Weekend in the City," new tracks such as "Halo" and "Trojan Horse" recapture the brazen energy that their first album epitomized.
BLOC PARTY
Grade: A-Verdict: "Silent Alarm" set a precedent that "Intimacy" doesn't quite reach. However, it is clear that Bloc Party definitely has its mojo back.
Last year's single "Flux" alerted fans to Bloc Party's recent electronic experimentation, and the new album features those developments as well.
"Mercury" is the cornerstone of the band's electronic sound, while "Ares," which the band called on its Web site "wildly experimental," is the boldest song Bloc Party has ever attempted.
The English rock quartet close out "Intimacy" with a beautiful ballad titled "Ion Square." The final song has similarities to both "So Here We Are" and "This Modern Love" from "Silent Alarm."
Lyrically, "Intimacy" features some of Bloc Party's best material. Spawned from Okereke's recent break-up, the band's new songs examine the full scope and complexity of human relationships, without coming off as whiny.
Fans of Bloc Party's music will love the recapturing of the same elements that made "Silent Alarm" wildly popular. However, the band's incorporation of electronic elements into their newest album is a natural progression in the evolution of Bloc Party's sound.
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