Kele
2042

According to some theories, 2042 is the year in which ethnic minorities will become the majority of the U.S. population.

And "2042" is also the title of the fourth solo venture by Bloc Party's frontman, Kele Okereke, which comes two years after the previous "Fatherland" and marks a fundamental milestone in the career of the 38-year-old musician from Liverpool.

"2042" is indeed a very ambitious and personal work, marking a clear departure from the intimate and minimal folk of the previous studio effort: back then the change was inspired by the birth of his first daughter, Savannah; today, it is the political and social situation in England (and generally in Europe and worldwide) that gives Okereke further creative push, as he signs the most provocative and political album of his career.

The dance rock dipped in afrobeat of the biting single "Jungle Bunny" opens a varied album, overflowing with different styles, that compensates for an inevitable underlying disunity with a quality of writing that good Kele hasn't shown in several years. It's clear that the very personal touch of the tracks has enhanced the creativity of the Albion frontman, as he crafts a series of truly remarkable pieces, each different from the other but with a strong underlying stylistic identity.

The sound structures evolve and unfold, often within the same piece, as evidenced by the splendid "Ceiling Games," which starts as a bossa only to explode into a burst of distorted guitar and a corollary of dark synths. But if it's to be a political record, a political record it shall be: this is how an absolute gem like "Let England Burn" is born, heavily indebted to certain "rougher" works of Kanye West ("Black Skinhead"), acidic and furious like never before, and the classic R&B of "St Kaepernick Wept" and "Secrets West 29th."

There's also space for rock, as in the glam of the second single "Between Me And My Maker," with a long introspective tail that extends the piece to six minutes in length, and for an absolute Prince-influenced bombshell like "My Business," an absolute hit in the style of Minneapolis' genius's "Black Sweat," slightly tarnished by an acidic distorted guitar. There is no lack of tributes to Kele's Nigerian roots ("Cyril's Blood") and a sweet dedication to his partner in the delicate "Natural Hair."

Okereke thus decides to capture what it means to be black, gay, and an artist in England in 2019. He does so with enviable clarity, crafting one of the best works of his career. A truly delightful surprise.

Best track: My Business