Bloc Party’s new album is inching closer and closer to release (February 6 US) which means the Bloc are back with another video (following “Prayer”). Just released, “I Still Remember” is a near infinite light rail romp featuring a near infinite amount of Kele Okerekes. Essentially we get several “stories” of Mr. Okereke representing his recollections of various rail trips and the adventures, good and bad, they signify. The whole affair aims to evoke a sense optimism and celebration (FYI: fireworks = celebration in symbolism-land) and I’ll be damned if doesn’t just manage to pull it off, largely because of a tight focus that never strays too far from the concept. Each car in the train represents progressing stages of a Kele story and we get three run-throughs on the train before the whole thing gets blatant with fireworks and polaroids and rowboats (still not sure about that one) before we close on a relaxing and recollecting Mr. Okereke in a deserted field with a train car. Like I said, blatantly symbolic.
The multiple Keles are accomplished via simple green screen compositing and thankfully it comes out looking fairly well integrate, which is good because that effect done poorly just irks me to no end (although the low video quality of this release could be hiding some unforeseen ugliness… you’re a champ, MTV). On the whole the video and the song stray from some of the more punchy Bloc Party antics of the Silent Alarm era and tread somewhat closely to “mid-tempo teenage anthem” territory, but thankfully keep it proper rather than intolerable. I’ll let the Bloc Party superfans discuss the merits of their forthcoming album A Weekend in the City and simply state that both Bloc and Aggressive deserve some kudos here. I mean, by all measures I should hate this song and video but something about the simplicity and optimism of both of them win me over in the end.
I still think Bloc Party’s best video is the footage of the amazing Daewon Song accompanied by the song “This Modern Love” that can be found in DVS’ skateboard video Skate More, but that’s because “This Modern Love” is one of my favorite Bloc songs and Daewon is in my opinion one of the best skaters ever, so it’s probably just me. Check it (starts at 1:43).
[ Undoubtedly a better quality version of this video will emerge (Aggresive? Refused TV? Care to share?), at which point we’ll replace our download with the better one. I’ll highlight this fact when it happens under the file download button for those who care. ]
Bloc Party - I Still Remember, directed by Aggressive
Via SRO (21.9 MB)
Hey Brian,
Definately appreciate you dropping by my site. How’d you even find it? The new site’s been up since Monday and already I’ve heard from you and someone from Muzzle of Bees. Either way I checked out The Owl and loved it. Pretty crazy stuff. But thanks for checking out my site and hopefully I’ll see you back soon. My aim screen name is pelican473 if you ever want to talk music. Later.
fans poping up all over the place. Like the video. It’s just a concept I have seen done to perfection.
The Daewon part of Skate More turned me on to Bloc Party. To say its incredibly well done is such an understatement. I need to go find it, its just so impressive, especially the way the action links up to such a nostalgic song.
Because of that part of Skate More, my infatuation with the band has grown to where I’m a member of Marshals and going row 10 to their March 31st concert at United Palace Theatre, NYC.
My name is rachael and i am from coombeshead college. I am doing my gcse coursework and was looking for images of Bloc party and found this one on your site. I need your permission to use it, and i will not publish it anyway, it will be used solely for my coursework and nothing else.
Please reply soon- thankyou
Sorry Rachael, we don’t hold the rights to that image.