Silent Alarm

Bloc Party

Album Released 2005

By Rose MacDonald

Kele Okerere describes this album as "Technicolor". He means it has big sound, energetic performances - all the things that make rock bands sound skilled and confident. This is the kind of album where every song is as good as the singles so that it's worth every penny you've paid for it. Technicolor is definitely the right word to describe this album.

The album explodes into 'Like eating glass'. This song with its brilliant guitar, amazing drums and a beat that will keep your foot tapping all the way through, is certainly a great way to start the album off. 'Helicopter' comes next, and it is by far one of my favorites on the album. It starts brilliantly and the guitar and drums work together to create an amazing sound. I love the voices in the background and there are a few stop and start's in the middle which is really effective. I could not fault this song, even if I tried.

After 'Helicopter' there is 'Positive tension' and then 'Banquet'. 'Positive tension' has a good chorus and bridge but isn't as exciting as the first two. It does; however, speed up at the end which is good. 'Banquet' is a great song, it flows like most other songs on this album and the drums are great. The ending is brilliant.

'Blue Light' is the fifth song on the album with a quiet start and slow, calm vocals. It does speed up about a minute and a half in, the drums are played well and at the end Kele is accompanied by other singers. 'She’s hearing voices' follows with the drums and guitar starting it off. This song flows and has a good rhythm, the studio effects were cool and the guitar was played brilliantly around three minutes in.

Next is 'This modern love' and then 'The pioneers', both very good songs. 'This modern love' had a soft, slow beginning with a good rhythm throughout. It builds up slowly and there is the same great drum playing. 'The pioneers' has a foot tapping beginning, great vocals and keeps your attention the whole way through.

In my notes which I wrote whilst listening to this album I wrote 10/10 under this song: 'Price of Gasoline'. This song is exciting and definitely catches your attention. It is built up well, and the clapping added something different. Great ending...

Unfortunately, I don't like song number ten, 'So here we are,' quite as much as the others. It has a slow beginning and was a little bit boring, although the song flows and the guitar is good, as usual.

'Luno' comes next, and I like this song a lot. It is quick, everyone performs their best and it grabs your attention. Around two minutes in you are taken aback by the guitar playing, truly a work of art. 'Plans' had a great beginning with slow vocals. This song has an almost futuristic sound to it with what sounds like echoes in the guitar. The last song on the album is 'Compliments'. This song is slow and calm, with good studio effects. The drums, played slow and quiet, are really effective. A group of singers adds to the flowing rhythm of the song. It does get louder and speeds up a little bit but it does not lose its calming quality. A brilliant ending to a brilliant album.

I listened to this album numerous times trying to find faults in it but there were hardly any, and those I did find were feeble. The music seemed surprisingly scripted, but was performed with such ease and enthusiasm.

If you like your music to be fresh, strong and exciting with a few slow ones thrown in, then Bloc Party is for you. I hope this band continues to make more albums as amazing as this one. I give it 9/10.