Bloc Party's Intimacy delivers as promised

Bloc Party has returned to musical brilliance with its latest album, Intimacy. (The album could also have been titled Lust Lust Lust--but alas, that title was already taken by The Raveonettes with their most recent musical offering.) Basically, Intimacy is about the sometimes romantic, sometimes casual, and sometimes intense love affairs that complicate, confound, and enrich human lives.

The album starts out with "Ares," a song named after the ancient god of war. Naturally this song is fast-paced and frenetic, punctuated by a cacophony of drumbeats and a wailing electric guitar. In short, the song seems to associate starting a new relationship with "starting a war."

The second track "Mercury" has the singer launching headlong into a new relationship, despite having some initial trepidation about his new love interest. A complex percussion pattern and the menacing sounds of trumpets and trombones underline the singer's sense that "this is not the time to start a new love."

The visceral sensuality of the album cover is best evoked by "Halo," the third track. (Musically, this song is most similar to "Helicopter," from Bloc Party's first album Silent Alarm.) Lyrically, Okereke is recalling the intense physical attraction often felt in the beginning stages of a relationship, as he croons "paralyze me with your kiss."

The hallmark of Bloc Party's musical style is their ability to channel the spirit of 80's New Wave bands--most notably The Cure. Arguably, most of Bloc Party's better songs are the fast-paced ones. However, on this album, equal care seems to have been taken with the slower songs as well as the faster ones. The slower songs masterfully combine tender, thoughtful lyrics with carefully sampled electronic beats.

After being somewhat disappointed by A Weekend in the City--Bloc Party's lukewarm sophomore effort--I felt like Bloc Party had really lost its way as a band. Thankfully, they have once again found their way with Intimacy, in which every song is packed with meaningful emotion and well-phrased musical motifs.