So today I downloaded(legally - I paid for it) the new Bloc Party record, Intimacy. I've given it only a cursory once over, and I have to say it is great. I think it is more put together than the haphazard Weekend In The City, giving more hard hitting guitars, vocal hooks and of course the fantastic "drum machine" drumming of Matt Tong. My first impressions are that this is a pretty hard record with a raw sound, the guitars are much more in the fore front than their previous releases, and this record seems less "danceable". Which is striking as there is more of an electronic footprint on some of the songs, with synth drums and lines that go in and out through most of the tracks, notable on "Signs" and the single "Mercury". "Mercury" is pretty classic Bloc Party and the most "dancey" track so far, that I'm sure will have about 150 dance remixes of. However they have married the rawness of their style of rock with minimal electronic flourishes that mesh nicely. A difficult task to say the least, as many bands in the past 5 years have tried to do this but didn't reach this level. I'm sure it is attributable to the production work of Jacknife Lee and Paul Epworth.
One of the producers, Jacknife Lee, who has worked with such artists as Weezer, U2 and Snow Patrol came from the "big beat" sound of late 90s Britain. The sound is evident on some of the tracks here, with large drums surrounding most of the tracks. He is a welcome addition to Bloc Party's boards.
So I will have to listen to the record a few more times, but for a first listen I am impressed and like it more than their last record. They have definitely grown as a band, with Kele Okereke's vocals even more confident and powerful. Bloc Party are definitely one of the more interesting and great sounding bands currently out there.
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