Second single to be taken from Bloc Party’s ‘Four’ is the unashamedly abrasive ‘Kettling’. Its vivid lyrics were inspired by the global civil unrest of 2011: “There was so much going on in the world in 2011” says Kele, “you couldn’t turn on the television without seeing pictures of people protesting or rioting or mass disarray. Of course those are quite frightening images. But there’s also something quite poetic about people standing up and saying they’ve had enough of something; that no, they will not take this any more. That’s what the song was really about.”
In sum, three years ago, the Bloc Party might have been over. After a decade of recording, touring and planet-girdling graft, personal space and side-projects loomed the four were heading their separate ways. Yet here they are, back, solid, forthright and foursquare. Grievances, they admit, were aired. Positivity, they are pleased to acknowledge, emerged. And a rebooted enthusiasm for their band, and what their band could do, quickly dominated proceedings. The gang of four were back in action.
Finally, coming soon to a venue near you, one of the most inventive British guitar bands of the Noughties, doing what they’ve long done brilliantly: rocking it live. That’ll be real FOUR play.
Bloc Party UK tour dates:
12/10 – Newcastle, O2 Academy
13/10 – Leeds, O2 Academy
14/10 – Glasgow, O2 Academy
15/10 – Birmingham, O2 Academy
17/10 – Southampton, Guildhall
18/10 – Bristol, O2 Academy
19/10 – Manchester, WHP
20/10 – Cambridge, Corn Exchange
22/02 – London, Earls Court