Kele Okereke - 'Trick'

6/10

As the frontman of Bloc Party, Kele Okereke made a name for himself as a very outspoken individual, both in and out of the studio. His lyrics always look to expose the discrimination and loveless attitude within modern society, but it has been his solo albums that have really helped the vocalist to express himself. Now onto his second individual effort, going by his full name rather than simply Kele, he has used his leftfield approach to electronic music to deliver an album of substance and emotion.

His debut solo effort 'The Boxer' was a very club-ready affair that used the same tricks and techniques Bloc Party opted for in order to make them a great band that you could dance to. But 'Trick' is a far more brooding affair as the frontman looks to use breakbeats and solemn instrumentation to create a record which is more about the message than its dance floor appeal. The album has this nostalgic twinge to it that gives it a resonance with the dance music lead RnB of the late 90s, which helps keep the pace of the full-length ever moving forward and ultimately creating a very succinct body of work.

While it still doesn't have that same magic Kele used to pump out at will, 'Trick' is still a very romantic and well-conceived album, if not a little forgettable by the end.

More Reviews

Kasabian - '48:13'
10 years 5 months ago

7/10

Clean Bandit - 'New Eyes'
10 years 6 months ago

6/10

EP: SBTRKT - ’Transitions’
10 years 8 months ago

7/10

EP: Com Truise - 'Wave 1'
10 years 9 months ago

8/10

ALBUMS OF 2013: Top 10-1
10 years 11 months ago

10. Savages – Silence Yourself

ALBUMS OF 2013: Top 20-11
10 years 11 months ago

20. Factory Floor – Factory Floor

ALBUMS OF 2013: Top 30-21
10 years 11 months ago

30. Laura Mvula – Sing To The Moon

ALBUMS OF 2013: Top 40-31
10 years 11 months ago

40. Ryan Hemsworth – Guilt Trips