Intimacy - Bloc Party

I had heard of Bloc Party, but didn't know any of their music before I came across this record. The band had already had a couple of releases and are set on a course of world domination. Whenever I come across such bands I am always a little apprehensive to hear their work because it is so often a let down. Indeed, the first few times I heard this album I wasn't really sure what to make of it. The sound at first is aggressive, an unusual mix of industrial electronica with garage rock, then with the distinctive vocals of Kele Okereke over the top. Later on in the album an unexpected mix of glockenspiel and other chiming sounds form the basis of some tracks, ...  Read the complete review

Having met and formed the band in 1999 at Reading Festival it's fair to say that Bloc Party have come a long way in the last 10 years. Last year saw the band release their third studio album Intimacy with the hope that it would continue the success they were already enjoying. The band had secured themselves a place amongst the leading British acts with the previous 2 albums and this album seemed like a slight change of direction and trying something a little different, whilst not alienating the fans they'd already gained. The album itself came about in a rather strange way. When the first single "Mercury" was released in August there wasn't any ...  Read the complete review

When the first single off London-based Indie band Bloc Party's 3rd album was released a lot of Bloc Party fans were understandably disappointed. Mercury was not the Bloc Party we had grown to know, but something entirely different. Instead of the classic Indie type of music dominating the scene this was a strange mix of electro and rock, with the only noticeable Bloc party elements being the dance influenced drumming and Kele Okereke's faded out vocals. However, after a few listens a lot of fans, me included, found themselves hooked to this track and loving it. The funny thing is, this, in my opinion, is actually the worst song on the album; and it's great! When the ...  Read the complete review

Intimacy is the third album by London band Bloc Party. It was originally released to download from the band's website in August 2008 (in MP3 format) and was released on cd in October 2008. The original download release did not include Talons and Ion Square. Intimacy uses the big beat influenced sound first used on the 2007 single Flux which sadly isn't included on the album. It's rumoured that Intimacy is based upon a break-up frontman Kele Okereke had in 2007. Ares (named after the god of war) gets the album off to a good start and features a lot of the elements used in Flux. Mercury (the first single off the album) is up next and it has to be said ...  Read the complete review

Since 2005's debut album 'Silent Alarm' Bloc Party have been my favorite band, 2007 follow up 'A Weekend In The City' did nothing to deter this despite not being on par with the previous record, so it was with great excitement and fear when in August 2008 Bloc Party announced the release of third studio album 'Intimacy' adding to the bombshell they announced that Intimacy would be released digitally just three days later, with the physical format available a couple months later. Jointly produced by Paul Epworth and Jacknife Lee of the first two albums would this release signal a dilution of quality compared to previous albums? Or would this snap release show a band who ...  Read the complete review