Hearing frontman Kele Okereke belt out Bloc Party’s I Still Remember and realising it was about a boy’s attraction to another schoolboy will forever be stamped gleefully in my mind. Along with tracks from the likes of Gossip and Peaches I heard during my own sexual awakening I realised that, like me, music didn’t have to be all about boy-girl love stuff. But even mentioning that in the context of this review of Kele’s new solo album Trick makes me a naughty reviewer, as I am about to tell you that when you listen to Kele Okereke’s solo work you should probably clear your mind of most of what the now out musician did with Bloc Party. Although the band did go down the electronica route, his solo work is all dance. Trick is much more palatable than Kele’s first solo album The Boxer. It’s not so jarringly experimental. In fact it’s retro smooth, but with plenty of beats to keep you awake. It makes sense then that Kele says the album isn’t club music, but designed for playing after you’ve been out dancing all night. And for people who aren’t such party animals, it’s also a great listen while driving or chilling on a deck in the spring sun! In its entirety, the album is about falling for someone, from the funky opening track First Impressions to the final ultimatum Stay The Night. Trick moves through all the stages of a fresh romance, and it’s a heady ride. Doubt will have you nodding your heat to its broken beat and thrusting chorus, Year Zero gets passionate with its demand for a fresh start, and while NME says fun dance track Closer is a ‘blip’, it’s my favourite track on the album. The unashamedly catchy 90s dance pop throwback, with female vocalist Jodie Scantlebury on the chorus, demands repeat plays. If you love electronica, you’ll love Trick. It’s sexy. It’s romantic. It has a boy singing about a boy. It’s a perfect soundtrack for a lusty summer flirtation. Get in quick for your chance to win a copy here Jacqui Stanford - 14th October 2014