274 – Bloc Party – Helicopter (2004)
Written by Bloc Party
Produced by Paul Epworth and Bloc Party
Label – Wichita
Sadly, Bloc Party never fulfilled the huge potential of their debut album “Silent Alarm”. Kele Okereke’s infatuation with electronic dance music took the band away from their strengths as an inventive Alt. rock band. This powerhouse single steams in at 171 BPM, highlighting Russell Lissack’s angular guitar riff and Matt Tong’s superbly intricate rhythms. There’s an urgency that’s impossible to resist and Okereke’s vocal is one of rock music’s rare yet distinctive voices.
Agreed. They never fulfilled the promise of their debut. I saw them live in 2008 and Kele spent the whole set bitching about the sound. Pretty boring. Great post!
It’s a shame because the musicianship in the band is exceptional, particularly Matt Tong’s drumming.