On their storming debut album Silent Alarm, Bloc Party seemed touched by greatness.
And even though the follow-up (A Weekend In The City) was patchier - their assent to pop's premier league seemed assured.
And that trend is happily confirmed on their third album Intimacy.
First released via their website a few months back, the so-called "physical'' version ie CD hits the shops on Monday.
Diehard fans will already be, er, intimate with Intimacy but for the curious there are treats in store. Beware though this is distinctly uneasy listening.
Opening track Ares is a bludgeoning maelstrom which sounds more like a collaboration between Dizzee Rascal and The Chemical Brothers, it's ferocious stuff.
The pace doesn't drop with Mercury. The first single lifted from the album, powered by clattering drums and experimental electronica, is reminiscent of Public Image Ltd.
The band, led ably by frontman Kele Okereke, show their versatility with the sad laments of Biko and Signs. And, in general, the lyrics are more deeply personal than ever with such weighty themes as relationship break-ups and death dominating.
Halo is great, classic Bloc Party with searing guitars and a song that creates an atmosphere of both excitement and uncertainty.
Other highlights include the final two tracks Better Than Heaven and Ion Square.Co produced by Jacknife Lee and Paul Epworth, the band display an awesome power which is sometimes almost overwhelming.
8 out of 10Do you agree with this review?
What do you think of this album/artist?Comment below, email us:
nigel.thornton@ peterboroughtoday.co.uk.
Elsewhere online:
Bloc Party official website.
Drowned In Sound / Bloc Party - Intimacy review.
Bloc Party, Intimacy | The Observer review.
Intimacy - Bloc Party, Review - Rolling Stone.
Listen to Bloc Party - Intimacy on Last.fm.
Intimacy (Bloc Party album) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
More PeterboroughToday.co.uk Music ReviewsThe full article contains 311 words and appears in ET Life newspaper.
