Bloc Party unleash anthemic pop comeback "The Love Within" from upcoming album Hymns

05 October 2015, 20:00 | Written by Laurence Day

(News)

(Bloc Party) (Kele Okereke)

Bloc Party have revealed a brand new single called "The Love Within" on Annie Mac's BBC Radio 1 show as The Hottest Record In The World. It's their first official release since founding members Matt Tong and Gordon Moakes departed the fold, and the first from upcoming fifth record Hymns..

Drums are now the realm of Louise Bartle, while Justin Harris has taken up the bass duties. The new line up has played a few gigs in North America, and will debut their wares on our shores later this year.

The opening line of "The Love Within" harks back to Weekend In The City's "The Prayer" - "Lord give me grace, and dancing feet..." - but that's as far as prior links will go. It's caramel smooth, funky as hell, tinged with '80s hugeness, and a chorus that sees frontman Kele Okereke ooze elation. This is a massive comeback.

Earlier today, Bloc Party played the first of this week's BBC Radio 6 Music's live Maida Vale sessions, playing seven tracks, including new cuts "Exes" and the country-rockin' "The Good News", and Okereke spoke to Lauren Laverne about the big changes the band's undergone lately, saying that "this is the first day of Bloc Party mark two."

Describing the new single before the show, Okereke joked that it is "another one from the hit factory." More seriously, he added that it's "straight up Bloc Party... what we do, we do quite well, and it's nice to put that out there."

A new album, titled Hymns, is slated for early next year. It's been 10 years since their game-changing debut, Silent Alarm.

Check out the new single below via Infectious Music/BMG.