Bloc Party - Alpha Games

After racing out of the traps with three albums in four years, Bloc Party left their competitors either for dead or flailing around, trying to catch up with their rapid movement through art-rock, post-punk (in old money), electronica and house-pop.

Yet when the original line-up took the time for a well-earned hiatus, the four-piece went through a turbulent period. The rhythm section left prior to the recording of 2016’s gospel-electro Hymns, which had its moments but felt incomplete, such as it was having only two full-time members present during recording.

Although Justin Harris (bass) and Louise Bartle (drums) were recruited for the supporting tour, it’s taken a further six years to hear the new line-up’s first collaborative efforts.

Pleasingly, Alpha Games is more of a refinement than an overhaul with a healthy balance between new sonic developments (as they were always wont to do) and recognition of what made the group so unique.

https://www.live4ever.uk.com/2022/04/review-bloc-party-alpha-games/