In between their seemingly never-ending tour schedule, Bloc Party have somehow managed to find time to pop back into the studio to record some new material to placate their ever growing fan base, just eight months after the release of their marvellous, Mercury nominated debut Silent Alarm.
And on first listen, Two More Years is much darker than anything on that record - gone are the edgy guitars and excitable vocals of Helicopter and Banquet, in place we get some electronic bleeps, toned down drumming and some mournful lyrics about a deteriorating relationship - "What was once golden has now turned a shade of grey, I've become crueller in your presence" - an outlook no doubt accentuated by constantly being away from home. It seems as though the bright lights of global fame aren't as attractive as one may think.
Whatever their mood, they still know how to write perfect pop songs - by the time the brooding, New Order-esque chorus arrives, you're completely engulfed in their world, which should make this the soundtrack to strained relationships everywhere. All in all it's a wonderful single that's more worthy of your three pounds than anything else this year.
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