Are you hoping for miracle? Bloc Party `s here!

I was away for quite some time. let `s just say last week, I was constantly on the run with limited number of clean cloths and various places to go. So, it is understandable, I guess for me to overlook a one and half month-year-old email from one of my music informer, Fahmi. He sent me a new single from a new post-punk group from U.K called Bloc Party. The name of the group could be misleading ( re; suggesting techno-dance-party tune)but that is the only thing that we should ever regret. Far from being a duplicate of any other bands around, Bloc Party carries its tune with confidence, great skills and enough intellectual creativity that put average rock bands to shame. After a repeated listening to "Banquet", off I went to Music Zone, Pertama Complex to grab a copy of their debut album.

With a minimalist touch to the lyrics and a fresh combination of post-punk and disco in the music arrangement department, no wonder they are hailed as the Sound of 2005.In BBC `s poll for the Sound of 2005, this gang of four fall just behind The Bravery in the final poll. Apart from having 2 singles that landed on U.K Top Chart, Bloc Party is well received by lots of music critics as the next big thing, compared to "Franz Ferdinand" constantly plus going for tours in Japan and U.S recently. Their debut album- 'Silent Alarm' is what I called an album that is produced with utmost care, affection and seriousness that lots of new rock bands seem to neglect. NME hailed them as the vital rock band since The Clash whereas Pitchfork review gave them a 8.9 for their perfect effort on their debut.

But what `s interesting about the band is not only about their multi-interpretative lyrics (which can be both personal account or political to some extent) but also their persona and wit that shone during their interviews with the media.Far from being a "fuck off-i don't care about the others but only my band" type of rock band, their concern about reaching out to grassroots from all levels and not only stylish hipsters are painfully sweet.

Just read Matt Tong `s words during the interview with BBC UK,"We've never really believed in lionising cultural icons to the extent that their emulation makes inroads into individual expression.." plus "If we had to stand against anything, we'd probably want to stand united against complacency".

With Kelle, the lead singer who is black and Matt Tong who `s Asian, their motto of ensuring that their music is inclusive in approach and not enjoyed only by elitist hipsters resonates hopes for a fresh rock band image that is not only tied to drugs and groupies. I quote again from the interview that Bloc Party is not your average brainless rock band. But the best part is that they project their creativity and intellect honestly without being big headed about it. Hopefully, they would stay that way at least until the end of this year.

My personal favorite tracks: Helicopter, Banquet, Positive Tone and Like Eating Glass.

Let`s enjoy what Bloc Party `s offering us now and start worrying about the future later. I guess they are taking the same approach too:

Asked what the band stand for, Tong says: "If we had to stand against anything, we'd probably want to stand united against complacency.

"Then again, it's all good me saying that, bright eyed and bushy-tailed at the start of our little journey.

"Try asking us again in 10 years time when we all look like Keith Richards and have fathered numerous illegitimate children across the globe."