Jittery, raucous, and simmering with an erratic sonic palette Bloc Party‘s new single “Flirting Again” is a feverish reminder of the band’s explosive potency. The release, of course, also has us speculating if some long-awaited North American dates are on the horizon—especially considering their upcoming Silent Alarm & Greatest Hits summer tour in Europe and the U.K. Fans might be divided on the wily new direction, but one thing everything can agree is more Bloc Party live dates in 2024.

Burnished with a bit more polish than perhaps Bloc Party fans are used to, “Bittersweet” nevertheless crackles with the same corkscrewing energy and manic lyricism that makes them so damn ecstatic to listen to. After sharing the track fans immediately drew comparisons to Alpha Games, as well as “Ratchet” from their 2013 record FOUR, which sprints with similarly roiling, off-kilter jumpiness.

“‘Flirting Again’ is about being thrust back into the scene and trying to remember how it all works,” Kele Okereke explained. “It’s about trying to appear desirable, whilst at the same time hiding the hurt that defines you. We are all carrying around the various scars that we have accumulated over the years, the heartbreaks that have come to shape how we give love and receive love. This song is about picking yourself up and carrying on.”

This post may contain affiliate links, and Grimy Goods may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our independent, fan-powered media network.

Propelled by frenetic bass, jutting riffs, elastic rhythms, and a rabid array of percussion, “Bittersweet” bounces, tilts, and madly tumbles through a night cut loose of all inhibitions. “Tonight I’m taking names for the game / Can I be tamed?” come the familiar wails as they ramp up for an unabashed dive back into a world, space, feeling they haven’t immersed themselves in for some time. This is a wild-eyed, raw renewal that takes all the crassness and craziness of such a bold move in stride.

Are Bloc Party Touring in 2024?

At the end of this month, the band will initiate their 20 YEARS OF BLOC PARTY: Silent Alarm & Greatest Hits Tour, which features a handful of dates in cities like London and Dublin. With the drop of a solitary single comes the question: will fans in North America get the chance to catch the indie-rock heroes in concert before the year is out?

Nothing is confirmed, but the release of new music almost always precedes some new project or tour. We feel the odds are good that something is in the works by Bloc Party. Their last album, Alpha Games, arrived in 2022, so maybe that’s a little soon to roll out a brand new record, but who knows? Maybe we’ll get treated to our own version of their upcoming greatest hits tour!

ARTISTS YOU SHOULD KNOW

BEST NEW MUSIC

Words: Steven Ward

Visit Bloc Party on their website and Instagram to stay updated on new releases and tour announcements.