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Bloc Party - 'One More Chance'

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Fraser McAlpine | 11:01 UK time, Wednesday, 5 August 2009

Bloc Party

I've never been a massive fan of remixes. There's always the suspicion that they largely exist to pad out single releases and save artists from having to put out their every tiny musical thought as a b-side or an extra track - and therefore expose their weaker ideas to a fickle public. And more often than not, they leave out the bits of a song that you want to hear, in favour of sound fragments being scattered across new music which might as well be an entirely different tune, one that you're not really in the mood for, so it's an unsettling experience all round.

There are exceptions, naturally, lots of them, and my list is probably just as long as yours, but the rest of them come across as just a way of diluting a very good musical idea across someone else's half-hearted dance music.

Hats off to Bloc Party, then, for cutting to the chase and putting out songs which already sound like remixes (and then, bizarrely, putting out remixes of these songs). In this way their ideas always sound minty fresh, the song remains at the core of things, and the synths and drum-machines are already here.

(. You wouldn't end a night like this...)

And let's be clear, synths and drum machines and dance music = amazing. It's the wilful tearing apart and rebuilding of something which does not always need or suit such treatment that's problematic.

Anyway, to business. They're getting really good at blending these sounds together, after a quite self-conscious start. The pounding Italo house piano sits beautifully next to the distorted guitars. The drums and bass straddle the gap between dour indie and happy dancefloor like it ain't no thing.

Kele's written a song which repeats and stammers like his vocals have been sampled - and clearly in some cases they have - but which still works as a kind of story. When you're down on your knees, when you're pleading with someone, and they don't want to listen, you'll repeat yourself a lot too.

Best of all, it still sounds exactly like Bloc Party. Not just because of Kele's traumatised yelp, but musically there's still a whole lot of frost to their sound - courtesy of Russell Lissack's doomy strumming arm, it seems - which no amount of uplifting club-friendly production is going to melt.

I've no idea if there are going to be remixes to this, in the way that the entirety of 'Intimacy' got worked over and then released, and to be honest I don't want to know. Possibly there's more to be done to make this a better song, but I don't think Bloc Party believe this to be the case, or they'd be releasing that version instead. It's not like they're worried about losing their indie credibility, is it?

Have an idea, make it to the best of your ability, polish it, stick to your guns, hope for the best: That's the way (uhuh uhuh) I like it.

Four starsDownload: Out now
CD Released: August 10th

´óÏó´«Ã½ Music page

(Fraser McAlpine)

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    yea its got 'pjanooish' piano, or piano that is used in modern chart dance music. it works really well.. agree with the review and pointing out of the multiple remixes..

    althou i am a big fan of intimacy remixed.. phones remixes his last track (under that particular pseudonym) on that album (remixing talons) as well as ares actually being a far far better song when remixed.

  • Comment number 2.

    Only 4 stars!?

  • Comment number 3.

    Great song and remix. I like the piano which brings a whole different feel to the song. And the video clearly demonstrates the fatal danger of playing with a ouija board: being forced to channel the spirit of Andy McCluskey dancing to "Sailing on the Seven Seas". Leave it alone kids.

  • Comment number 4.

    I heard this song on the radio yesterday. I spent the first 30 seconds trying to reconise the vocal and the next 30 seconds disliking the song and not careing. 1 minute in I remembered it was the bloke from Bloc Party so I spent the next 30 seconds staggered. The 30 seconds following were also spend disliking the song. The 30 seconds after I put my head in my hands. The next 30 seconds I put my fingers in my ears and sang Helicopter, remembered the "good old days" and pretending the last 3 minutes didnt happen. The next 30 seconds I really listened and tried to like it. The last 32 seconds of I song I spent thinking maybe Ill like it after 10 listens.

    Ill report back how it is after said 10 listens. If I can stomach 10 listens.

  • Comment number 5.

    I agree with the four stars; it doesn't quite reach the heights of previous material. However, I love how Bloc Party are in constant progression. Not obvious direction change like the Killers, but a slow build up into different territories. It's quite nice, you know, in a tea party with sponge cake kind of way. In my head anyway

    One thing that has me shocked though is at near 7 o'clock I saw that this song was playing on the Chartshow. Are they Top 10? Or am I a fool? I forgot to listen this week :/ and I can't wait for them to update the list on the site.

  • Comment number 6.

    Hi again Moz , Bloc Party was the first song Grimmy played in his switch show straight after the number 1 .

    It's not in the chart yet.. but expect it to be soon.

    It is certainly a grower...

  • Comment number 7.

    Bloc Party aren't a chart band, but a song like this I expect to make it in. Thanks for that :)

  • Comment number 8.

    Well Bloc Party have had a fair amount of top 40 singles . (OVER 10 )

    I expect One More Chance will be a Top 20 single , and may even crack the top 10 !

  • Comment number 9.

    I meant they don't focus on the charts that much, they've obviously got in the charts, but their sound isn't particularly based on the current trends of popular music, like Girls Aloud for example. There are aspects but they mainly just write based on their inspirations and hope people like it.

  • Comment number 10.

    I know what u mean Moz .

    One More Chance is their most commercial and chart friendly single since Flux ... and that went TOP 10 !

    One more chance could do the same.....

  • Comment number 11.

    Fingers crossed. :)
    This could be like Flux; the whole of A Weekend In The City was re-released with Flux on after it went top 10. Maybe the same with Intimacy.
    Or perhaps not since their contract's up. Just thought of that.
    Actually I may just listen to Flux again, it's been a while since I last played it.
    You come across like you love a LOT of music to me Spirit (understatement?), how do you decide what goes on your iPod? Ahh, dilemma.

  • Comment number 12.

    It's tricky to decide what goes on my I-POD Moz .

    I love all types of music , I am extremely open - minded and I like a whole variety as long as it's good .

    On saying that , I can also appreciate the commercial and the marketing side of music , that gets songs as high in the charts as possible .

    There are a lot of unsung heroes in the world of music who do a lot of hard work and have some great ideas , behind the scenes .

    I am running a half marathon in 3 weeks and my i-pod is currently awash with fast paced gems.

    Frankmusik , Lost Prophets , Manic ST Preachers , Beyonce , Medina Lake , Dizzee Rascal , David Guetta , Eminem , Friendly fires , to name a few lol

  • Comment number 13.

    Interesting, I don't think I've ever known of anyone to like Beyonce and Madina Lake :)
    Are you doing the Great North Run? Or is that later in September?
    Good luck anyway, I like my running myself.

  • Comment number 14.

    O ne important thing about music is that there are no rules which govern what music we are allowed to like . I ts a free world and just to prove it . . . . Enter shikari follow interpol after nirvana on the i pod . I think duran duran and calvin harris are on there too .↲
    Its the bristol half marathon that will test of soon .

  • Comment number 15.

    will test me soon . Sorry predictive text !

  • Comment number 16.

    Heh I did a half this year too Spirit. Although stuff with a good fast based beat was good, I actually also loved running to really atmospheric, build up, inspirational ballardesq songs. Some favs included -

    Goo Goo Dolls - Iris , Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars, Glasvegas - Geraldine, Elbow - Grounds for Divorce and White Lies - Death. All pretty stereotypical "top 10 songs of all time" (the first two anyway) styled fodder, but brilliant to run to.

    However, hands down, the best running music is Prodigy. Breath and Voodoo people got me round.

  • Comment number 17.

    Do you know Liam , those first 5 songs you mentioned really resonate with me .
    Seriously resonate !

    Iris . The way it is used in City of Angels is pure cinematic magic .

    Chasing Cars . An epic song , and the most played song in pubs in the UK in the last 5 years . Fact !

    Geraldine - I think everyone knows my love 4 Glasvegas , right from when they were unsigned . This song is a soaring goosebump ride , full of magic .

    Elbow - It's the- " There's a hole in my neighbourhood " line that does me everytime , and the kick - arse guitars after each chorus !

    Death - My fave White Lies song . How the song builds momentum to it's strangely up lifting climax is darkly mesmeric . Great stuff !

  • Comment number 18.

    Yeah , running whilst listening to great music is truly wonderful !

  • Comment number 19.

    Oh and of course The Prodigy are great !

  • Comment number 20.

    I LOVE GLASVEGAS! The third best live band in the world currently (behind Muse and The Killers).
    I love running to Death (the song I mean lol), and I think that's a good point you make about music, Spirit. I have a mixed taste myself and the beauty is there's so much to discover. You need your dancefloor fillers, tearjerkers, musical masterpieces, sloppy ballads, headbangers, atmospheric anthems and cheesy guilty pleasures. I listened to Psychosocial then La La Land according to Recently Played.
    Why on Earth I like Demi Lovato, I don't know, I should hate her. Considering I think Jonas Brothers should be exiled to Tatooine...

  • Comment number 21.

    "There's a hole in my neighbourhood " Positively adore that song and that album. Absolutely resonates with me.

  • Comment number 22.

    Glasvegas third best live band in the country? Im not convinced. I absolutely love the album and I want it to win the Mercury prize. . .This is because the other 2 albums I prefere to it, White Lies and Lily Allens arent in the list for some unknown and upsetting reason. . . BUT Ive heard that live they struggle. Mainly because their drummer is pretty poor. I of course would see them live given the chance.

  • Comment number 23.

    The first time I saw Glasvegas live was before they had a record deal , and I dragged Mrs Spirit out to watch them !

    I had only heard a rough demo of "Flowers and Football Tops " on a c.d , but that was enough for me .

    Into the car , and drive half the country to see this band that I knew had something really special from one song .

    Could they cut it live ?

    They played to a very small crowd , but the magic they conveyed sent the hairs on the back of my neck skyward , and I realised I was watching a stage in the development of a truly great band .
    They were phenomenal !
    Flowers live , made my eyes water , . The live effect of this song was awesome .
    From that moment ... I knew .

    Whether the album has enough light and shade to win the Mercury is debatable , but one thing is sure , it's one hell of a debut !

  • Comment number 24.

    I remember Mr.s Spirit , questioning me saying , why are we driving all this way to see a band that have only one song you know , on a doggy c.d ?

    I said , because this song is the most moving song , I've heard in ages that's why !

    At the end of the gig we looked at each other and both said :

    "They were %&^&%^%* brilliant !

    She trusts me a bit more now ....

  • Comment number 25.

    That should be one song I know on a dodgy c.d !

    Time 4 bed Spirit ! lol lol

    Oh somebody correct it PLEASE ! lol

  • Comment number 26.

    When I saw Glasvegas live, the roof could have blown off. They just have this energy that not many bands can really transmit when they play their songs. It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry moved me to tears when I heard it. And it's true that Caroline McKay ain't a great drummer, but she keeps beat and that's all you need. Meg White's just as good as her but the White Stripes are also amazing live. It's part of their sound, and it works fabulously. I would love to see them win Mercury, but I agree it's criminal to leave out Lily and White Lies (who are also good live).

  • Comment number 27.

    Bloc Party number 15 , another TOP 20 hit !!!

  • Comment number 28.

    Yay. :)

  • Comment number 29.

    One More Chance sounds great on the dancefloor !

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