Bloc Party
Alpha Games

We last left Bloc Party with the much-discussed "Hymns" six years ago, an album that decisively veered towards an electronic sound influenced by rhythm and blues and gospel.

Many (perhaps too many) were quick to label it as a too subdued album, perhaps because of the rather abrupt shift, when in fact not everything was to be discarded, quite the contrary. Now, after so much time, the band led by frontman Kele Okereke are back at it with a brand new album, christened "Alpha Games" and produced by a seasoned industry (and genre) veteran like Nick Launay.

Preceded by four singles, this new studio effort is the first to benefit significantly from the contributions of Justin Harris (bass) and Louise Bartle (drums), who joined Bloc Party in 2015. That’s why Okereke himself talked about a fundamentally different band, though certainly, the Londoners’ sound can still rely on a well-defined imprint. The choices made for this new work only serve to accentuate this feeling.

In the usual pre-release statements, there was talk of a definite return to origins (fueled by the celebratory tour of "Silent Alarm"), and so it is, in part: the album's best piece, the wonderful "Day Drinker," opens right away, which would not be out of place (neither in terms of sound nor quality) in the much-celebrated debut. And immediately following is the thunderous single "Traps," which lacks absolutely nothing: perfectly audacious guitars, a danceable beat, and a fervent Kele behind the microphone. Thus, the first part of the album follows more or less this blueprint, among indie rock moments more aligned with the present ("You Should Know The Truth") and brief pyrotechnic forays that even touch upon pop punk ("Callum Is A Snake," another great track).

In the second half, however, things get a bit more varied and less predictable; "The Girls Are Fighting" channels the more fervent Depeche Mode, "Of Things Yet To Come" is an inspired post-punk revival while "If We Get Caught" is basically a remake of the old hit "I Still Remember" and has a bit of a fan service vibe, but we gladly forgive it if the songwriting is so inspired. And that Okereke’s pen is back to being first-rate is confirmed by the sumptuous "Rough Justice," which even throws in a couple of fascinations from the frontman’s now prolific solo career.

"Alpha Games" is therefore a summary of everything Bloc Party have proposed over seventeen years of career, with a hint of novelty and even a couple of bold episodes (check out the almost-spoken word of the closing "Peace Offering" to believe it). This time, with a greater focus on guitars compared to the previous episode.

Best track: Rough Justice