| The Flames Pt. 2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 24 March 2023 | |||
| Length | 40:18 | |||
| Label |
| |||
| Kele chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from The Flames Pt. 2 | ||||
| ||||
The Flames Pt. 2 is the sixth studio album by English musician Kele Okereke. As its title suggests, the album serves as a companion piece to Okereke's previous album The Waves Pt. 1 (2021). [1] It was released on 24 March 2023, through Okereke's own Kola Records.
Like The Waves before, The Flames was performed entirely by Okereke, and recorded in his home studio with co-writer and producer Gethin Pearson. [1] In an interview with The Line of Best Fit , Okereke said of the two albums:
I'm seeing these records as a kind of Yin & Yang thing. If the sound of pt.1 is the listener drifting off to a happy, peaceful place, pt. 2 is the sound of being woken up very loudly. [1]
The first single, "Vandal", was released on 25 November 2022. [2] The cover art for "Vandal" features Okereke burning a copy of The Queen Is Dead by the Smiths. [2] The second single, "True Love Knows No Death", was released on 13 January 2023. [3] The cover art for the single features Okereke burning a copy of Silent Alarm – an album by his band, Bloc Party. [3] The third single, "Someone To Make Me Laugh", was released on 19 February 2023. The cover art for the single features Okereke burning a copy of the book Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis. [4]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Clash |   [5] |
| Far Out |   [6] |
| Loud and Quiet | [7] |
| The Line of Best Fit | [1] |
The Flames Pt. 2 received positive reviews from critics. Robin Murray of Clash in a positive reviews praised the album's introspective lyrics. [5] Far Out 's Tyler Golsen opined "The Flames, Part 2 is ultimately a record that is split in its identity. As a companion piece to The Waves, Part 1, it’s a satisfying conclusion that bridges the two records in complementary ways. As its own release, The Flames can feel maddingly slight. Still, it’s not like going back and listening to the engrossing sounds of The Waves is a homework assignment" and that the context of his previous album, was needed to The Waves Pt. 1 fully appreciate it. [6] Jasleen Dhindsa from Loud and Quiet said "intensive, absorbing record, even in its more gentle moments, partly due to all sounds recorded coming from one instrument: Kele's guitar". [7]
The Line of Best Fit 's Kate Crudgington lauded the album opining it is a "Poetically bookending a time of intense reflection and growth". [1]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Never Have I Ever" | 4:13 |
| 2. | "Reckless" | 2:36 |
| 3. | "And He Never Was The Same Again" | 4:14 |
| 4. | "True Love Knows No Death" | 2:54 |
| 5. | "Vandal" | 3:31 |
| 6. | "Her Darkest Hour" | 3:01 |
| 7. | "No Risk No Reward" | 3:01 |
| 8. | "Someone To Make Me Laugh" | 3:21 |
| 9. | "I'm In Love With An Outline" | 4:18 |
| 10. | "Acting On A Hunch" | 2:26 |
| 11. | "Kerosene" | 3:24 |
| 12. | "The Colour of Dying Flame" | 3:22 |
| Total length: | 40:18 | |
Bloc Party are an English rock band that was formed in London in 1999 by co-founders Kele Okereke and Russell Lissack. They are joined in the band's current iteration by Louise Bartle and touring bassist Harry Deacon. Former members Matt Tong, Gordon Moakes and Justin Harris left the band in 2013, 2015 and 2023 respectively. Their brand of music, whilst rooted in rock, retains elements of other genres such as electronica and house music.
Rowland Kelechukwu "Kele" Okereke, also known mononymously as Kele, is an English singer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the indie rock band Bloc Party. Additionally, he has released six studio albums as a solo artist.
Silent Alarm is the debut studio album by English rock band Bloc Party. Recorded in Copenhagen and London in mid-2004 with Paul Epworth as producer, it was released on 2 February 2005, by Wichita Recordings. The album peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart. In the United States, it entered the Billboard 200 at number 114 and the Billboard Independent Albums at number seven. The double A-side "So Here We Are/Positive Tension", "Banquet" and "The Pioneers" were released as singles. Silent Alarm went on to achieve worldwide sales of over one million copies.
"Banquet" is a song from British band Bloc Party's debut album Silent Alarm. Originally released on a double A-side single along with "Staying Fat" in May 2004 by Moshi Moshi Records, it was re-released as a regular single in the United Kingdom by Wichita Recordings on 25 April 2005. It was their first single to chart on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks where it came in at number 34, and is often credited as their breakthrough single in North America. It was also featured in the song "Bloc Party" on the Fort Minor Mixtape: We Major. It was ranked No. 31 in NME's top 100 tracks of the decade, and was number 54 in Triple J's Hottest 100 of all time. It peaked at No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart. In 2011, NME placed it at number 20 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years". The song was featured in the 2018/19 video game Life Is Strange 2.
Intimacy is the third studio album by English indie rock band Bloc Party. It was recorded in two weeks at several locations in London and Kent during 2008 and was produced by Jacknife Lee and Paul Epworth. The band members made the album available for purchase on their website as a digital download on 21 August 2008. Minimal promotion was undertaken in the UK. The record was released in compact disc form on 24 October 2008, with Wichita Recordings as the primary label. It peaked at number 8 on the UK Albums Chart and entered the Billboard 200 in the United States at number 18.
Kaleidoscope is the fourth studio album by Dutch DJ and record producer Tiësto, released on 6 October 2009 by Musical Freedom, Tiësto's new label in association with PIAS Recordings. The album contains collaborations with Nelly Furtado, Emily Haines of Metric, Tegan and Sara, Jónsi of Sigur Rós, Kele Okereke of Bloc Party, and Calvin Harris among others.
The Boxer is the debut solo album by Kele Okereke, the lead singer of British indie rock band Bloc Party. Okereke released the album under the professional name of Kele on 21 June 2010. As promotion, he uploaded the songs "Rise" and "Walk Tall" to his personal website on 13 May. The first single from The Boxer was "Tenderoni", released on 14 June, and the second, "Everything You Wanted", on 16 August. The album's third single "On the Lam" was released on 25 October.
"Tenderoni" is the first single by Kele Okereke from his debut album, The Boxer. It was released as a download from iTunes on 13 June 2010 in the UK and 11 June in Australia, and was released on CD format on 14 June 2010. The song has similarities with "Wearing My Rolex" by Wiley. It was also used in the video game Gran Turismo 5 and was featured in trailers for the video game Sonic Generations.
"The Only Flame in Town" is a song written by new wave musician Elvis Costello and recorded by Costello with his backing band the Attractions. The song appeared on Costello's 1984 album, Goodbye Cruel World. Originally written in the style of a classic torch song, "The Only Flame in Town" was reworked by producers Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley in a more pop-friendly style. This final version features Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates on backing vocals.
The Hunter is the first EP by Kele Okereke, lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the British rock band Bloc Party. It was released on 7 November 2011 by Wichita Recordings in the UK, set back a week from the original release date, and 3 days earlier on 4 November 2011 by Wichita Recordings and Liberator Music in Australia. The first single released from the EP was "What Did I Do?", which features guest vocals from Lucy Taylor. The music video was released on 13 September 2011, with the song released as a digital single in Japan 10 days later.
Four is the fourth studio album by British rock band Bloc Party. It was recorded in late 2011 and early 2012 at Stratosphere Sound, New York City, with producer Alex Newport. Newport also produced Wreckonomics—the EP of bassist Gordon Moakes' side project, Young Legionnaire. It was released on 20 August 2012 on independent label Frenchkiss Records, and was made available to stream the week preceding its release. The album peaked at number 3 in the UK Albums Chart, and at number 36 on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States. It is the last album featuring the original line-up with Gordon Moakes and Matt Tong.
Torus is the second studio album by British DJ and record producer Sub Focus. The album was released on 30 September 2013, through RAM Records, Mercury Records and Virgin EMI Records.
Hymns is the fifth studio album by English indie rock band Bloc Party. It was released worldwide in January 2016 on BMG. The album was recorded between March and August 2015 at Lynchmob Studios in London, following a hiatus during which Matt Tong and Gordon Moakes departed the band. It is the first album to feature new band member Justin Harris on bass and keyboards. The songs "The Love Within", "The Good News", and "Virtue" were released as singles.
2042 is the fourth studio album by English musician Kele Okereke. It was released on 8 November 2019 through Kola Records.
Alpha Games is the sixth studio album by English indie rock band Bloc Party, released on 29 April 2022. It is the first studio album by the band since 2016's Hymns. It is notably the first album with drummer Louise Bartle, who joined the band after drum sessions for Hymns had been completed, and the first to feature significant songwriting input from Bartle and bassist Justin Harris with Hymns having been mostly written by lead singer Kele Okereke and guitarist Russell Lissack.
NewDad are a rock band from Galway, Ireland, formed in 2018. Their music has been compared to The Cure, Beabadoobee, and Just Mustard by NME magazine. Atwood Magazine wrote of the group: "The band oozes personality with cynical but honest lyrics, colorful visual components, and poignant messages about coping with the, albeit painful, formative experiences." The group have appeared at the Green Man Festival in Wales, the Pitchfork Music Festival in Paris, and on the Irish television program Other Voices.
The Waves Pt. 1 is the fifth studio album by English musician Kele Okereke. It was released on 28 May 2021 through Kola Records. Upon release, it received positive reviews from critics.
Hypnos is the debut album by American singer and songwriter Ravyn Lenae. It was released on May 20, 2022, through Atlantic Records. The album includes guest appearances and production from Monte Booker, Steve Lacy, Kaytranada, Fousheé, Mereba, Smino, Sango, Luke Titus, IAmNobodi, Phoelix and Teo Halm. The artwork of the album was shot by Quil Lemons.
Squeeze is the second studio album by American musician Sasami, released on February 25, 2022, by Domino Recording Company. The album marks a transition from the singer-songwriter style of Sasami's debut album to a harder rock sound that incorporates heavy metal and industrial influences. Rolling Stone,Consequence of Sound, and The A.V. Club all named Squeeze as one of the best albums of 2022.
Social Lubrication is the third studio album by British punk rock band Dream Wife, released through Lucky Number on 9 June 2023. It was produced by Alice Go and preceded by the single "Hot ".
