Next year will be the tenth anniversary of Bloc Party’s debut album,Silent Alarm, which had everyone dancing not so silently all throughout the mid-to-late ’00s. Dismissing the possibility of a reunion anniversary tour as “cringey”, Kele Okereke is powering on in solo fashion withTrick, his second LP.
Buzzing beats contrast with see-saw melodies, and call-and-response choruses combine with short, well-timed huffs of breath as Trick covers stories of relationship woes and celebrations. Opener ‘First Impressions’ (ironically) grows on you after a few listens, as smooth female vocals in the chorus play an affectionate game of tag with Kele’s unmistakable croon. Female voices also appear on ‘Closer’, another intimate track that demonstrates Kele’s transformation and expertise in beat-dropping.
Throughout Trick, songs are sustained by dark, popping beats, especially on the single ‘Doubt’, one of the more ominous-sounding cuts on the record. Kele’s tone ranges from impassioned lover in ‘Year Zero’ to focused storyteller in ‘Stay The Night’; each persona set against a distinctly dark, underground London.
Moving away from the upbeat Bloc Party vibe towards grittier dance tunes, Kele’s work is more groove-inducing than ever.
3.5/5.
Trickis out Friday October 10 through Kobalt.
