Where in the past Bloc Party have dealt in emotional ambiguity, on this seventh effort all metaphors are discarded. Described by Kele Okereke as the most personal work of his career, Anatomy of a Brief Romance is a chronological account of a relationship from first glance to final goodbye, operating as a memoir over 14 songs.
Given the autobiographical content, it’s a surprise that Okereke chose to release this under the Bloc Party name rather than as a solo record. Yet the presence of guitarist Russell Lissack, drummer Louise Bartle and new bassist Harry Deacon — making his recording debut with the band — proves crucial. Although the album leans more heavily on synthesisers than before, the band add a heft and texture that the subject…
You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please Log In.
A 20th anniversary edition of the album, pair the original album (featuring favorites “She’s Hearing Voices,” “Helicopter,” “So Here We Are” and “Banquet”) with 23 B-sides and rarities, including nine unreleased demos and live cuts.