When a lead singer breaks free from a band to forge a solo career, it’s usually to release some similar sounding music – probably to ensure they keep a good collection of fans waiting in the wings. For prime examples recently, see Alex Turner, Brandon Flowers, Miles Kane, etc. Last year, after announcing a Bloc Party hiatus, Kele Okereke went against the norm by releasing his dance/electro inspired solo debut, ‘The Boxer’. Although a totally different sound to what we’re used to with Bloc Party, Kele proved his worth by showcasing a new sound that not only worked, but proved some doubters wrong whilst picking up new fans along the way.
Skip forward almost 18 months and Kele is back with yet more solo material in the shape of new EP, ‘The Hunter’. With the recent news that his fellow Bloc Party members have been recording without him, and rumours that they’re auditioning for a new lead singer, it seems Kele is determined to go it alone. ‘The Hunter’ is a 7 track EP, and is yet another venture into a collection of genres far removed from the Bloc Party days.
The EP begins with recent single ‘What Did I Do?’ a song that lends itself to a vocal from Lucy Taylor with backing from Kele. With an electronic feel and underlying dubstep bassline, this isn’t something you’d expect from the guy that brought us classics such as ‘Banquet’ and ‘Helicopter’. Unfortunately, the track at times sounds like an average, top 40 chart, one-hit wonder. It doesn’t get stuck in the head, it isn’t really enough to make you want more, and if I’m honest, I’m disappointed that it does neither.
Second track ‘Release Me’ sounds like a remix of a Friendly Fires cast-off, complete with dancey drum beat and repetitive vocals. Again, it’s nothing special, but luckily third song ‘Devotion’ does what the previous two tracks haven’t. It’s a song with a memorable, almost sing-a-long chorus, and is a welcome sound in comparison to the start of the EP. This sounds much more Kele Okereke, particularly at his most chilled and laid back.
Next up is a cover of the Q Lazzarus one-hit wonder, ‘Goodbye Horses’. Quite close to the original, Kele’s version brings the song to 2011 with his own sound complimenting the 80’s feel of the track. One of the better outings on the EP, this is a song perfectly suited to Kele’s unique voice.
‘Cable’s Goodbye’ and ‘Love As A Weapon’ are undoubtedly the weakest tracks on ‘The Hunter’. If you asked, I couldn’t distinguish one from the other, and neither moved me in any way, which is something I look for in my music. ‘You Belong To Someone Else’ wraps up the EP, and is a definite improvement with its upbeat, addictive, and almost retro sound. Full of African drums and a mixture of sounds, this could be another potential single, and is much more of a mainstream sound that could be popular with fans of the many genres it encapsulates.
All in all, ‘The Hunter’ is quite a disappointing listen. It certainly fits under the banner of “all filler, no killer”, which is a shame as someone with Kele’s talent is capable of much more. I’m all for artists breaking away and trying new things, and branching into other genres, but it has to be the right sound. For Kele, ‘The Boxer’ was spot on. It was a great new sound, a new direction, and it worked. This new EP however, doesn’t, and I’m not entirely sure why. Perhaps it’s that Kele has ventured TOO far out of his comfort zone? Perhaps it’s that nothing on the EP even touches ‘Tenderoni’ as a quality tune? Or maybe, deep down, we all just want Bloc Party back together making the music they do best and what we love most. There’s certainly a future for Kele’s solo career, but maybe he should think less “hunter” and more “boxer”!
‘The Hunter’ EP is available to buy and download now.
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Skip forward almost 18 months and Kele is back with yet more solo material in the shape of new EP, ‘The Hunter’. With the recent news that his fellow Bloc Party members have been recording without him, and rumours that they’re auditioning for a new lead singer, it seems Kele is determined to go it alone. ‘The Hunter’ is a 7 track EP, and is yet another venture into a collection of genres far removed from the Bloc Party days. .jpg)
