Bloc Party - Two More Years

Realising they couldn't release yet another single from their acclaimed debut Silent Alarm, and a Mercury Prize nomination behind them, everyone's favourite purveyor's of art-rock offer the first taster from their second album (due out early next year).

Two More Years is built around the usual Bloc Party blueprint, but with a slight progression in the way of adding drum machine beats. There's still the same combination of spiky, angular guitars and chugging bass lines, with post-punk rhythms that they have been peddling since their debut single. Which could suggest Bloc Party are fast running out of new ideas, or are sitting far too comfortably on an already sure-hit formula.

When the band first launched onto the scene they offered a frantic, raw and fresh approach which has since been copied by numerous bands. Perhaps the reference of Two More Years is a hint of Bloc Party's remaining shelf-life, afterall.