11 September 2026
London‘s top-league indie rockers BLOC PARTY, fronted by charismatic
singer-songwriter Kele Okereke have their 7th longplayer, named
ANATOMY OF A BRIEF ROMANCE out.
Okereke wrote the record in the wake
of a more than decade-long relationship.
“Every lyric you’re hearing on this record was something that
actually happened to me. I had to tell the story, from start to
finish.”
📸 Charlie Pryor
Clash Magazine‘s verdict: “‘Anatomy Of A Brief Romance’ is a chronological account of a relationship from first glance to final goodbye. It may not be among their finest work, but ‘Anatomy Of A Brief Romance’ is surely a cathartic release for its composer and for listeners who see their own experiences reflected in it.”
TUTV: This new Bloc Party sounds like some old Bloc Party records, but not the great
ones (like the first 2) but the okay ones. Sonically, there are just not enough top-shelf tunes (except for the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed singles and a couple of other chipper ones), too many lukewarm pieces.
Lyrically, as aforementioned, all 14 songs (too many) serve to tell the story – from start
to finish – of a past Okereke relationship (so why didn’t you make it a solo one, Kele?). I always have mixed emotions about relationship albums. Does the partner like it that his/her love life goes public? What is her/his side of the story? And I’m not really interested in so many details of someone else’s romances. File this anatomy next to BC’s other just okay full-lengths.
Singles.
– COMING ON STRONGE –
– LOVE BOMBS –
– NOW WE CAN’T BE FRIENDS –
ALBUM
.