'Four': Bloc Party

British indie band, Bloc Party, returns to the scene with their album “Four,” which was released Tuesday. The 12-track album brings the band out of its two-year hiatus with a return to their traditional sound heard in “Silent Alarm.”

The four member band, made up of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Kele Okereke, lead guitarist Russell Lissack, jack-of-all-trades musician Gordan Moakes and drummer Matt Tong takes a step back from the heavily electronic influence of their more sophomore and junior LPs and utilize a different styling of their talents.

Formed in 1999, Bloc Party’s critically acclaimed first album “Silent Alarm” brought them quickly into the music spotlight with its positive reception in both the UK market and the U.S. music scene. Touring extensively through worldwide circuits, Bloc Party released two more albums that experimented with the electronic genre and veered away from its breakout sound. Theband even ventured into the postpunk music scene, which can be heard in their newly released album.

Bloc Party then released a single in 2009, but the band quickly went on hiatus. Okereke and the other members pursued personal side projects. Thankfully, the band’s three-year long hiatus didn’t leave fans waiting for long and they returned with their album, “Four.”

With a return to their guitar-driven sound, the album has a greater rock vibe. Bloc Party’s sound evolves throughout the album and takes listeners on a rollercoaster ride of pedal-infused guitar rhythms and Okereke’s distinct vocals. It’s a welcome revival that longstanding fans of the band will love.

The first official single off the album, “Octopus,” is an upbeat, heavily guitar-synthed track that reminds listeners of the band’s UK origin. The background rhythm is reminiscent of Northern Ireland band Two Door Cinema Club, but the vocals of the song make it a very Bloc Party track with Okereke’s indie-smooth voice. Bloc Party made a smart move in releasing this track first to represent their new album. It’s an amalgamation of their unique beloved traditional sound with inflections of their experimental flavor. The song kills in the best of ways, especially with the use of catchy group vocals and an 80’s heavy metal guitar solo.

“V.A.L.I.S.” another track from the album, showcases the return to Bloc Party’s original sound that was heard in their debut album, “Silent Alarm.” Okereke’s vocals make the lyrics run smooth as butter throughout the guitar-heavy track. It’s another catchy tune and the group vocal chorus was a brilliant decision to include in the track. “V.A.L.I.S.” is a must listen song from the album because of its great indie sound.

“Truth” winds the album down with a more mellow vocal and guitar arrangement. The track sounds like an eerie mix of Snow Patrol, Coldplay and stick closely to the familiar UK indie vibe. The song is not as upbeat and punk rock as the rest of the album, but it still carries the traditional Bloc Party sound that fans love. Okereke’s vocals are the meat of the song and the tracks background act more as supplemental material for the lead singer. It’s a strong song on the album that — if ever released on the airwaves as a single — will do well on the charts. It’s catchy yet has enough mainstream indie sound that will bring in some new fans.

Returning to the music scene from a two-year hiatus has proved that Bloc Party is still in the game. Although their album reflects their earlier “Silent Alarm” LP, Bloc Party still keeps it fresh with some experimental elements. “Four” is a strong fourth album effort, bound to pull in fans with their new-meets-old sound.

Bloc Party quickly return to the touring circuit now that “Four” has been released. Having refrained from performing live while writing the album, the band will begin  an extensive tour circuit that will span all over the world. Lucky for the US, Bloc party will cross the borders in September and begin a North American tour that will have the band stopping in Seattle, Washington D.C., and Chicago.

Sadly, it appears as though Southern California Bloc Party fans will have to hold out and wait patiently for them to return stateside on another tour. Keep a weather eye out on those music festivals, however; who knows who will end up on some of those lineups.

 

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