Album
Bloc Party
Intimacy
[Available as download]
Artist: Bloc Party
Released: 21 August 2008
Review
by Tom Young
22 August 2008
It wasn't easy to get excited about Intimacy. Since 2007's A Weekend In The City, we were treated to Flux, a half-baked slice of electro-pop, and then came Intimacy's first single, Mercury, a jarring musical seizure of a record that is as clever as it’s ridiculous. Bloc Party looked like they had finally surrendered to self-indulgence beyond rescue.
Thankfully, Intimacy sees the band at least try and temper such flights of fancy. Jacknife Lee, who produced the mixed bag of AWITC, and Paul Epworth, who master-minded the evergreen Silent Alarm, work in tandem this time round and the resulting fusion creates a nearly fabulous third album.
Ares is a firecracker of a start, a war anthem that is pure chaos, littered with clever lyrical asides and proof, if you needed it, that Bloc Party are the best in the business when it comes to bringing a track to a close. Then comes Mercury, leaving you punch-drunk and wondering if you'll ever hear a guitar again. You do, and it’s worth the wait as both Halo and Trojan Horse, revive the glory days of Helicopter and Banquet.
As you’d expect, anxiety, desire, need and frustration flow through the fittingly titled album and are well represented by stilted, broken beats, crashing finales and precisely meddled and layered vocals. Such dynamics are most apparent on the trio of tracks towards the end of the record, One Month Off, Zephyrus and Better Than Heaven. While Zephyrus, which calls upon the services of the Exmoor singers of London, will be the track to name-drop, the heart of the album is One Month Off. Catchy, clever and surely the world premiere of a Bloc Party key change, what more could you ask for?
Like The Streets, Hot Chip and, dare we say, Coldplay, Bloc Party are a UK talent that continue to push the envelope stretching you simultaneously to points of ecstasy, the Hot Chip-esque Signs, and to points of agony, the please-make-it-stop Ion Square. Lyrically it treads a similar tightrope, faring a lot better than the crimes of AWITC, but not without its schoolboy blunders. ''At your funeral, I was so upset, so upset, so upset'', bleats Okereke on Signs. Skilfully put.
With huge attention to detail, Intimacy is a beautiful enigma, and, given its early delivery, a cracking surprise.
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Olympia, Brighton
I am most certainly giving this album and 9 and a half out of 10. Just lyricial perfection with, once again, Kele coming back with lyrics that are spectacular. I don't really think you can compare Bloc Party to Coldplay, they're too good for Coldplay. And what's more Ion Square, Trojan Horse and Better Than Heaven have the best lyrics ever. Kele, you are a musical genius. Love to BP. xx :)
Warren, Sittingbourne
Bought this CD a few days ago. I have to say that so far I am not too impressed with it. I have found myself skipping some parts which are unlistenable. I think that crossover music like this is difficult to get right, and I just dont think Intimacy has quite hit the mark. The best tracks on this album are the ones that hark back to old Bloc Party - so hopefully for the next album theyll ditch the keyboards and vocoders and be a proper band again. I really wanted to like Intimacy as the best gig I have ever been to was a Bloc Party gig, and Im now on my third copy of Silent Alarm (cos I keep wearing the disk out). Should I keep trying to listen to Intimacy to see if its a grower, or do I take it back to the shop because its a growler??
Richard, Sandhurst
Intimacy is the best album of 2008! Bloc Party are the best british band around at the moment!! They are oftern over looked while attention slips to more overrated average bands!! This album is mind blowingly good!! Each track is excellent although stand out tracks for me include Signs and Halo!!! Bloc Party are getting better and better both live and recorded... hopefully they will get the recognition they deserve!!!
Konstantin, Rottedam
Absolutely stunning! "Must have" in the collection of any indie rock lover. However ,the ones who loved this band from Silent Alarm might be disappointed, since Intimacy is totally different.
matt bolton, maidstone
This is bloc partys best album, i love them! stuck with them since their first album, and every album is amazing, however, th 3 albums have all progressed in my opinion, and this one bloc party have risen into one o fthe best bands around at the moment, seeing them at reading this year was a dream, they were fantastic, i cant wait till london olympia next april, i honest think this album is amazing. looking foward to what the do next! best song on album for me is trojian horse, and i also love the bonus track, your visits are getting shorter!one more thing....BUY IT!!
Richard, Dublin
Like seemingly everyone else I can't understand the dismissal of Ion Square. Out of three Bloc Party album final tracks it is by far the best and is one of Intimacy's stand out tracks. Personally I find that Zephyrus to be the weakest track on the album, although the more I listen to it, the more it grows on me. In my opinion the best songs on the album are Signs, Ion Square, Trojan Horse and Talons.
Matt, Dallas
Great album, way ahead of the curve. Bloc Party has room to grow and the album is a bit rough on the outset, but after a few listens it really is much more dynamic than the other two. But there is certainly a bit indulgence (Mercury). It certainly has left me wanting more. I can't wait to hear their next album, hopefully they continue to pump out albums like they have been.
Oliver, Bristol
An amazing, superb album!
Luke, Barnsley
It seems that Kele's lyrics have become a lot more direct, he seems to be saying what he's feeling in quite a simple way, rather than masking the real meaning of the lyrics like in Silent Alarm (which takes away the "come to your own conclusions" feel that the lyrics in that album had). However, he's been doing this since AWITC, so I suppose I'll have to get used to it. As for the album, some of the tracks such as Halo have a similar feel to the AWITC B-Sides (more like Silent Alarm in other words), while the more experimental tracks like Ares are excellent too.
Shell, London
I have no idea why ppl doens't like this album, every album bloc party does something different n thats why i like them, if they released another Silent alarm or AWITC ppl would just get bored of em like i have with so many bands. I love every song on the album n never skip to the next, its just an amazing album as are all the others. People just have to get use to the fact they are not a samey band n never have been.
Craigy T
I loved ''Silent Alrm'' and couldn't wait to find out more about the band. I was very let down when I saw interviews with them. There a pack of rich kids and a bit poncy. ''A Weekend In The City'' really showed that off. The echo'd line ''sitting on the roof of my house with a ... six pack of beer ... six pack of beer'' was so cheesy and fake I thought I wouldn't enjoy another song by them! However I managed to block out there personalities and listen to the songs for what they are. So I was really chuffed when I heard ''Intimacy'' is pretty good and its getting closer to the genius of ''Silent Alarm''. So I guess I'll let them off.
Liam, Norwich
This is a dark and brooding masterpiece of poetic electronica. Everything on here has a cutting-edge and intellegent layering. An exciting rolloacoaster ride. Definately more consistant that WITC, which for me, was one half wicked, one half half-baked. This album has 3 or 4 shifts in mood and is far from 'boring' like side two of the last album. Sounds like the year 2050
James, Oxford
Flux, a half-baked slice of Electro-Pop? Nonsense; Flux is what ignited my love for Bloc Party. Before that piece of genius, I thought of them as hugely over-rated. The sheer quality of Flux made me go back and listen to some of their "classics". Now I own more or less everything they've ever released. So to dismiss Flux like that is foolish. For me, the strongest tracks on the new album are Talons, One Month Off and Ion Square.
Unkown, Belfast
After hearing Mercury I was fearing this album would be poor after the previous two were so good.But Bloc Party have delivered the goods. There is all different types of songs on this album, fast, slow and catchy songs.How can this muppet put down Ion Square, this is easily the best song on the album - absolutely mind blowing, Im addicted to it.Signs and Biko are fantastic songs aswell, cant wait to buy the album.
Dave Essex
Go see these guys live :)_
Joseph, New Zealand
AWITC is a very good c.d. Intimacy is amazing just wish it had more songs. Bloc party are the best britsh band, muse come second
lucifer hellsinki
did anybody ever think why bloc party are so good? banquet, helicopter amazing songs but i cant quite realize why all their other songs are so good too, how can a band as the stature have so many good songs?
Kieran, London
I think its an all right album, I am not too gone on it though. I personally think the second album is better. When I heard Bloc party were going with an "experimental electric touch", I thought most of the songs were going to be like Mercury. It turned out better than I thought. Anyways here are the songs I liked: MercuryHaloTrojan HorseOne Month OffTalonsOther than that I can't say too much for the other ones.
Ben, Cardiff
Ion Square is the best song on the album, i can't stop listening to it! its amazing closely followed by Trojan Horse, Halo and BikoIntimacy is not quite Silent Alarm but its damn near close!! AWITC i was slightly disappointed by but its so hard to live up to SA !! which was undoubedly album of 2005anyway Bloc Party are amazing!!, just wish they would tour the UK more, caught them in Manchester in 2005 but hasnt been many shows since tha :(
Harry Taylor, Arbroath Scotland
Personally i love this album. there are ALOT of people who dislike this album intensley and i have heard such phrases as terrible and dare i say it over rated peeking from peoples lips. HOWEVER i can see why people dont like it. lets be honest its no Weekend in The City. it hasnt really got any banquet or helicopters, nor flux's or hunting for witches. and this is why people are against it. they arent seeing it for what it is. it is evolution. BP have invented a completely new genre of music, giving you a slice of music u can chill and relax too, sing along to, and thyen go out raving ur ass off to. this is why this album is brilliant because this is what they want to be writing nearly. its not quite there, this is the album that peoplewill remember because it is revolutionary in the terms of music at the minute. it is evolution of the band who brought us a very funky fun album (SA) just for S&Giggles, who then brought us an album to show that they are serious artists (AWITC) BUT now they bring us something they really really want to do. this is their own genre and while i must admit i hate some songs one day, the next ill fall back in love with what is bloc party. this is just the tee-up to the next album. like the second pirates of the carribean movie, overrated but a stepping stone to a great final movei. thats all this is, a stepping stone to EVEN better things and people need to realise this otherwise they will hate it.for the record biko is the most emotionally deep song ive ever heard. better than heaven in revolutionary and i just saw these guys at reading and they made my night and im seeing them at the barfly in glasgow in a feww weeks. going to be amazing in a tiny venue like thatkissesxxx
Joni, Manchester
This review is atrociousIon Square is one of Bloc Party's bestHow dare you compare Bloc Party and Coldplay!!!Oh, and the One Month Off key change is the single worst thing Bloc Party have ever done, its awful
Nick London
Tom Young you are a plonker!How could you ever make a compairsion between Bloc Party and Hot Chip?Bloc Party have just come off the main stage at Reading and Leeds, and Hot chip... well they havent done much really have they?Bloc party have sold out concerts all over the world and sold millions of albums, once again...Hot chip havent really done much have they?I think AWITC was great and of course S.A Was just awesome, so the 3rd album was going to be interesting to see where they went from there.Espcially after the funky flux made it seem as if the band were reaching out to this whole dance techno kind of sound.And from what ive heard i think they have progressed and made a big step forward!Ion Square being a very emotional song for Kele and It shows.One month off with its catchy Guitar riffs as well as Ion Square are looking good to be released as singles i think.I am planning on seeing them At the Forum will be the forth time in a year hopefully.And i cannot wait!BLOC PARTAAY!
JP, Palace Street
I am thoroughly looking forward to listening to this, however I must disagree with some of the comments regarding AWITC. Before I heard this album ( and Hunting for Witches in particular) I used to dislike Bloc Party with a passion. Now they are one of my favourite bands. If this album really is as good as AWITC then I will be a happy bunny indeed.
dexter,london
a few listens and the album is a jewel too many people want a silent alarm again change is good! and sets this band above soo manybest= ion square,better than heaven,biko,zepyhrus
General Crazypaws, Kent
I disagree that Flux is 'a half-baked slice of electro-pop' and that Mercury is 'a jarring musical seizure of a record that is as clever as it’s ridiculous'. I also believe Bloc Party comparasons to the Streets, Hotchip and Coldplay is tenuous at best. These are four very seperate bands doing very different things and with very different aspirations.Here's my review of Flux and Mercury just from having given both track a fair listen:Whilst Flux is not the greatest song ever written or, for that matter the greatest Bloc Party single, it is still a band freeing themselves of the shackels of linear guitar-bass-drum combination and striking out by proving that they can do something else. Kid A it ain't but it certainly more interesting than the sing-a-long banality that is Coldplay, Razorlight et al. Mercury is a huge nod to the huge electro sounds that have been exploding in clubs all over the country for the past year. Following their collaborations with Paul Epworth, Bloc Party are experimenting and sound like they are truely enjoying the process. Whereas a few of the Weekend in the City Tracks sounded slightly tired, Mercury provides us with a thumping dance track people can dance to and is more than a little bit welcome.
barry buttress leicestershire
i aqint heard this album but i deffo need to hear this song ion square so
East london is vampire
'hot chip -esque Signs' are you deluded. did you actually listen to the album or for that matter Hot Chip, because tenuous link at best. Unless your onto a remix album already.....
Cat, Surrey
Think this is a great album, however I seem to be in a minority of people that DON'T think that AWITC was some sort of musical travesty, I loved the sentimentality of it, and the line you dismiss as "a schoolboy error" - "At your funeral I was so upset", is possibly my favorite part of the album. But then again I am a girl....Also Ares, is a poor and misleading start to a jewel of an album, don't be put off by this dire start. x
mike, boston
I think this is a fair and honest review. Kudos! When I did other searches for this album it seemed like the reviewers spent more time finding other artists that are similiar and uniquely bashed Bloc Party. I disliked many songs on the album, but after several listens I think this album is highly underestimated. People say they rushed the record but when has Bloc Party ever slowed down releasing new EP's or singles. I hope more listeners decide on their own than with snotty reviews, no offense.
Scott, Cheshire
Love it. Mercury sounds a lot better now. N o need to cringe when I hear it.I think the only bad song is Biko. You can definatley tell this was produced by Jacknife. It isn't bad as in horrible, just the other songs are better than it
Frank, London
One Month Off is by far and away the worst song on the album! How can something that has such a boring and repetitive chorus be the best song?!? There is nothing new and original about it!I agree with most of the review however. Brilliant album, but the reviewer sounds like one of those people lusting after a repeat of Silent Alarm. I'm so happy with this album as a move forward. I don't want another Helicopter or a another Banquet. I want new songs, a new album.Also Ion Square was dismissed so quickly in this review.... What a brilliant and epic finish to an album. An absolutely beautiful build and marvellous lyrics. And for what it's worth the masses on youtube agree with me, with almost a thousand more views of the song than 'One Month Off'
Andrew, Newcastle
'please-make-it-stop ion square' - what!? a great song
James, Essex
A great follow up to AWITC, Bloc Party get better and better with every album they release. I have no idea where they will go from here. Yet, I did say that when they released AWITC, so who knows?Amazing album.
Peter, London
If I had to choose UK bands to compare Bloc Party to, I wouldn't include The Streets and Coldplay in that list..
Jon, Wigan
Superb album, I was worried that this album would just be similar to weekend in the city but its so suprising almost an original sound, best album of the year, please dont compare them to coldplay zzzzzz
Jodi, Ireland.
I like the album bar the slightly flat middle section and the closing "Ion Square" which is actually "I Still Remember" hardly repackaged at all, albeit now a marginally better song! "Ares" is probably the biggest surprise, and at £5 the album is probably worth the download for that one song alone. I'd recommend it, especially for those rightly alienated by "A Weekend in the City".
Gerard, Dublin
A great album. Ion square is their best song yet.