The second album is always a tricky one. Having spent their life’s influences on the first, bands are often left with a creative chasm to fill. Bloc Party have found the perfect muse, however, as their second album has nothing but anger for everything they thought they loved.
Singer Kele Okereke spits a strange and beguiling brand of venom at any urban topic within reach. His band serve-up their usual choppy Wire-like rock, but this time it’s also a hybrid of the music they’re clearly in love with from the club scene. A number of times you’ll think you hear a sampled rhythm, only to realise that, actually, drummer Matt Tong is simply unbelievable behind the kit. Indeed, much of the album sounds like a remix of itself. Highlights are many, but be warned, this is no Silent Alarm. Song For Clay (Disappear Here) delivers a riff that Muse would be proud of, but there are darker moments telling tales of depression, general apathy and, worse still, east London streets.
Bloc Party operate on their own terms. They’ve hired U2’s producer, but they sound a million miles away from Live8; they’re multi-racial and betrayed by their indie roots. It’s far from an easy ride, but it should be taken by all.
