Intimacy (Bloc Party album)

Untitled

Intimacy is the third studio album by Bloc Party, which was released online in MP3 format on 21 August and was released in physical form and on the iTunes store on October 27. It reached #8 in the charts for the UK Albums Chart and reached #18 in the charts for the US Billboard Albums Chart.

Musical style

Musically, the album combines the jittery art rock of Silent Alarm with the fuller soundscapes of A Weekend in the City, as well as bringing in the electronic elements introduced in their 2007 single "Flux". The band has also drawn a heavily Big Beat-influenced sound with songs like "Ares" and "Mercury".

"Ion Square" features lyrics from E. E. Cummings' poem "I Carry Your Heart with Me".

In an interview with MTV Canada, Okereke has also said that due to their "four album deal" with their record company, they made it so that each member of the band gets to put their own influences into the album (besides Okereke's lyrical content). This album features more of Matt Tong's influences.

Versions

The CD version of the album features bonus tracks, in addition to the digital album. The first of these additional songs to be released was "Talons", which was debuted by Zane Lowe on BBC Radio 1 on September 9th and was made available to download from Bloc Party's website immediately afterwards for those who had already downloaded the full album. "Talons" was released as a single - the second from the album, following "Mercury" - on 20 October, 2008. The iTunes version comes with bonus live tracks from their performance at the London Apple store. The album released on CD, limited edition CD with bonus tracks, standard vinyl and vinyl picture disc.

Track listing

All tracks written by Russell Lissack, Gordon Moakes, Kele Okereke and Matt Tong.

1. "Ares" - 3:29
2. "Mercury" - 3:53
3. "Halo" - 3:36
4. "Biko" - 5:01
5. "Trojan Horse" - 3:32
6. "Signs" - 4:39
7. "One Month Off" - 3:38
8. "Zephyrus" - 4:34
9. "Talons" - 4:42
10. "Better Than Heaven" - 4:21
11. "Ion Square" - 6:33

The word 'Biko' means 'dear' in Igbo which is the language spoken in Nigeria the country of which Kele has heritage. Biko is a term of endearment in Igbo, the language spoken by Kele's parents. Kele:" It means 'dear' like when you're beseeching someone to do something."

Limited Edition CD Bonus Tracks

12. "Letter to My Son" - 4:26
13. "Your Visits Are Getting Shorter" - 4:21

Limited Edition CD/DVD

• Intimacy 13-track CD.
• Live and Intimate DVD, a film containing footage of the band performing several Intimacy tracks plus Banquet live on studio.

North American CD Bonus Tracks

14. "Flux" - 3:36

US Indie Store Exclusive CD Bonus Tracks

15. "Idea for a Story" - 5:04
16. "Mercury (CSS Remix)" - 4:07
17. "Talons (XXXChange Remix)" - 6:30

iTunes US Store Bonus Tracks

15. "Talons (Acoustic)" - 4:32
16. "Signs (Acoustic)" - 3:24
17. "Talons (Music Video)" - 3:58

Digital Download (original)

1. "Ares" - 3:29
2. "Mercury" - 3:53
3. "Halo" - 3:36
4. "Biko" - 5:01
5. "Trojan Horse" - 3:32
6. "Signs" - 4:39
7. "One Month Off" - 3:38
8. "Zephyrus" - 4:34
9. "Better Than Heaven" - 4:21
10. "Ion Square" - 6:33

Charts

Charts (2008)	Peak position
Australian ARIA Albums Chart	5
UK Albums Chart	8
US Billboard Albums Chart	18