Four [Deluxe Edition]

On May 31st of this year, Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke took to the internet. He began by apologizing for two not-very-funny jokes that had come in the months since Christmas 2010. One had suggested that he was booted from the band, and another suggested that an aging ex-Pearl Jam drummer had replaced mainstay Matt Tong. Neither of these hoax attempts were true - nor were they necessary. After the tour supporting their last album, 2008's Intimacy, Bloc Party found themselves at a creative standstill. Okereke thought the timing was right to "make a record that excites people in the clubs like M.I.A.'s XR2," as he put it. With a solo album and a dubstep EP behind him, Okereke explained that Bloc Party were indeed back together and had, in fact, just wrapped up recording their best record to date at Stratosphere Sound Studios in Manhattan.

Bloc Party has a strong following comprised of two types of fans: there are fans that embrace their constant evolution and fans that want them to record Silent Alarm over and over and over again. After listening to Four - an album Okereke says got its title not because it was the band`s fourth album, but rather because it was a raw sound of four guys playing in room together - this record will both satisfy fans from both camps, and alienate some fans from both camps. Interested in always evolving, Bloc Party ditched both of their former producers, Jackknife Lee and Paul Epworth, and recruited producer Alex Newport of Mars Volta fame. Newport suggested that Bloc Party make a record the old-fashioned way: no ProTools, no layering, no over-synthesized effects. The outcome is a record that, at times, rocks harder than anything that the band has ever done.

The lead single, "Octopus," finds the band renewed and revitalized. It's energetic, aggressive, and incredibly inventive. The guitar recalls one of guitarist Russell Lissack's heroes, Graham Coxon of Blur (see "On Your Own" from Blur's 1997 eponymous album). With that said, "Octopus" is really no indication of what was to come. Apart from this single and a similarly styled track called "Team A," you can hardly hear the influences that had littered their first three albums (Suede, The Cure, Blur, and The Smiths). Also, you get the sense that Kele has the danceclub electronics completely out of his system and that he's given Russell the key to the closet where he had his guitar locked up for more than four years. In fact, their last single before the hiatus, "One More Chance," now sounds like a different band.

The album showcases Russell's guitar - and an influence that may remind one of Deftones' White Pony (see "Kettling" and "3x3") . Matt Tong's explosive drumming returns to the fore. Interestingly, Kele has dumbed down his lyrics quite a bit for this record in a purposeful way, similar to what one of his idols Brett Anderson did when writing Suede's 1996 album Coming Up. Along with less meaningful, less heartbreaking and personal lyrical content, many songs show a more subdued vocal. That works here because the purpose of this record is to showcase all four members (all masters of their craft) not just Kele. This record is about a rock guitar that, in parts, may shock Bloc Party's fan base.

But make no mistake: this does not sound anything like Silent Alarm. If you were hoping to bounce along to a "Helicopter" sound-alike, you're not going to get that. Instead, you get songs like "Kettling," their hardest rocking track to date. It rocks so hard, it almost cannot even be classified as alternative rock - though it does seem to have a bass structure very similar to "Bulls on Parade" from Rage Against the Machine. This is one the record's standout tracks that finds Okereke aggressively belting out, "We smash the window! Popo don't ---- around!", telling the story of the recent riots in London - through the eyes of the rioter. Other glimpses of rock guitar can be found on the tracks "Coliseum" and "We Are Not Good People." While you do get glimpses of A Weekend In the City-era Bloc Party on tracks like "Day Four", the splendid and melodic "The Healing, and "Truth," and unfortunately get some borderline filler on the record's most personal track "Real Talk," this album, while often showcasing varying styles, is cohesive and reiterates Bloc Party's legacy of constant evolution. But instead of defining evolution as pretentious, oft-unlistenable electronic noise (ahem, King of Limbs), they define it as showing the world they can often rock as hard as anyone - and at times even harder than Silent Alarm. It's a very strong return effort. Is it Bloc Party's best record? I'm not quite ready to give it such a crown just yet, especially with Silent Alarm in their back catalogue, but I will confirm this: I've scanned Four`s deluxe edition from front-to-back seventeen times now, and curiously, Kele never says the word "cruel" once.

4 out of 5

After a three year hiatus Bloc Party have returned with their fourth album, imaginatively named...Four. Their first three efforts had all demonstrated different sides to the band. Silent Alarm was a fantastic and fresh take on indie-pop-rock; A Weekend In The City was far more progressive and moody; while Intimacy displayed Kele's bourgeoning love for electronic music. This tradition of evolution begged the question of where Bloc Party would take their sound on their `come-back' LP. The answer is that it returns the band to its roots without a synth in sight, but what the album lacks in innovation, it more than makes up for in inspiration, proving that relying solely on two guitars, a bass, drums and vocals needn't be a restriction on creative output. The songs on Four are packed with enticing guitar lines, first single, `Octopus', being a great example. It is certainly the bands heaviest album to date, with songs like `Kettling' and `We Are Not Good People' utilising grunge-inspired riffs. Fans who have been craving a Silent Alarm part 2 will find more to enjoy here than on AWITC or Intimacy. `V.A.L.I.S.' is just a super catchy slab of indie pop and `Truth' comes complete with infectious sing-along `Ooo Ooo Ooooos'. Slower songs like `Real Talk', and especially `Day Four', flaunt Bloc Party's gentler side and are beautifully written, adding an extra element to the album without sacrificing its intensity. Lyrically it is not Kele's strongest offering and there are a couple of easily forgettable tracks (`Team A' and `The Healing') but as a whole, `Four' can sit proudly in Bloc Party's catalogue. It may not be ground-breaking, but musically it is undoubtedly very rewarding.

So He Begins To Lie (7.5/10)
A relatively interesting start to the album, one of the only songs that could have conceivably come off any of their three other albums. The riff is pretty catchy and sets a nice groove. It works well as first song, but isn't an album highlight.

3x3 (8.5/10)
Starts quietly but quickly, exploding in the chorus with Kele screaming over a high guitar line. If he's able to replicate the vocal performance live, swapping the whisper of the verses for the wails of the chorus, then it will be a stand-out song at gigs.

Octopus (8.0)
Lead single. The guitar riff at the beginning of this is one of the more experimental and exciting parts of the album, something quite different and interesting. Upon first listen it didn't seem catchy enough to be first single, but repeated listens display the chorus's deceptive ability to get stuck in your head.

Real Talk (9.0)
One of the slower tracks. It is very simple and stripped back. The simplicity is central to its charm though and lyrically it is one of the strongest efforts on Four.

Kettling (10.0)
Best song on the album. It is the heaviest song Bloc Party has ever written and begins with a really grungey riff which leads into a high guitar line in the verses as Kele discusses the 2011 riots. The chorus exclaims "We can feel it in our bones", and the song is a call-to-arms built to be sung to arenas.

Day Four (9.5)
The most poignant point of the album. It is dreamy, tender and mesmerising. The pace of the song allows time to breathe after `Kettling'. The outro is another album highlight as guitars and Kele's falsetto `Ahh Ahhs' drift across a simple drum beat which exquisitely builds into a quiet, but beautiful climax.

Coliseum (9.5)
The song starts with an unusually slow groove, reminiscent of `Grounds For Divorce' by Elbow. However, it then changes tempo completely and offers a stomping riff much more like an Arctic Monkeys number. The song then temporarily slows as Kele extols the virtues of pain, gradually quicken as he does so before returning to the heavy riff from the middle of the song. It is incredibly well worked and the unorthodox nature of the song structure gives it a unique energy.

V.A.L.I.S. (9.0)
A more straight forward number, it could be a lost song off Silent Alarm and has been tipped as a future single. The chorus repeats the line "Show, Show, Show, Show Me" generously and possibly a little too often, but it is so fun and catchy that this is easily forgiven.

Team A (6.5)
Not a great track, the opening guitar line is a less interesting take on the `Octopus' riff. The songs meanders through two verses without much incident and when the heavier part finals arrives and tries to spice things up, it's a bit late to really ignite the song which is unfortunate since the guitar solo in the bridge is actually pretty cool.

Truth (8.5)
Another more sensitive, quieter song. A stripped back verse sets the way for the bass and drums as the song slowly builds in what is another of the albums lyrical highs. The "Oooo Oooo Oooo" of the chorus also gives the track a real feel-good factor. It's like `Sunday' off AWITC, but with more of a smile.

The Healing (6.0)
The least impressive part of the album, it is a softer track but lacks the melody or catchy tune of the other mellow moments. This exposes the slower pace of the song as seemingly a bit lost and aimless.

We Are Not Good People (9.0)
Bloc Party's other three albums finished with something slow and thoughtful. Not Four. WANGP is a fantastic and frenetic blast of an album finale. With the aggression and chaos of a Biffy Clyro tune, the album closes with a heavy, rock bang.

Overall: 8/10
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I really struggled with Intimacy to start with - couldn't understand what the fuss was about - a slow burner that eventually I loved. So, was cautious about this one, hearing some of the reviews, as it was a change again. But I love it. 3X3, Octopus and Real Talk just superb. Kele's voice is simply awesome.