Trick
by Kele
  • Record Label: Lilac
  • Release Date: Oct 14, 2014
Metascore
67

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 17
  3. Negative: 1 out of 17
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  1. Drowned In Sound
    Oct 13, 2014
    80
    Here, musically as lyrically, Okereke seems concerned with emotional connection first and foremost, making this a plaintive and engaging experience throughout.
  2. Alternative Press
    Oct 7, 2014
    80
    Okereke's voice, whether against an early-90s down-tempo club beat or a rattling guitar, is ever-evolving and worth many listens. [Nov 2014, p.90]
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  3. musicOMH.com
    Oct 7, 2014
    80
    Trick is an interesting, compelling listen and one that pushes Kele’s burgeoning reputation further.
  5. PopMatters
    Oct 16, 2014
    70
    It’s a perfectly enjoyable record, but it doesn’t bring anything new to the table.
  6. New Musical Express (NME)
    Oct 13, 2014
    70
    Largely, Trick measures up as a solid modern dance record and bears no trace of Bloc Party, proving that a lot can change in nine years.
  7. AllMusic
    Oct 13, 2014
    70
    He fares better on "Silver and Gold" and "Humour Me," where more energy and sensuality keep things afloat, proving once again that soul-searching and dancing don't have to be at cross purposes.
  8. Clash Music
    Oct 10, 2014
    70
    Sweet, intimate and tender, Trick is a tempting treat.
  9. The Line of Best Fit
    Oct 8, 2014
    70
    He's had a reputation for being guarded in the past, but on Trick, we see him wear his heart on his sleeve.
  10. Los Angeles Times
    Oct 14, 2014
    63
    While nothing on Trick feels incredibly urgent or revelatory, it's a rare late-night album that assumes you'll wake up next to someone you actually like.
  11. Q Magazine
    Nov 13, 2014
    60
    Okereke's voice, at times feels a bit too up close and personal. [Dec 2014, p.111]
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  12. Pitchfork
    Oct 16, 2014
    60
    Trick is nice with atmosphere, but largely a non-entity when it comes to hooks.
  13. The Guardian
    Oct 9, 2014
    60
    Kele the personality is often bigger than the music he makes, but it remains a joy to hear a man once notorious for giving grumpy interviews and kicking members of Art Brut sounding so liberated.
  14. Uncut
    Oct 7, 2014
    60
    Trick is the Bloc Party singer's comedown record: confessional, emotional and, in places, a bit much. [Nov 2014, p.76]
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  15. DIY Magazine
    Oct 7, 2014
    60
    Sure, it’s a sound that at times can be guilty of slipping into little more than a background beat; the kind of thing you’d half listen to at two in the morning on Kiss100 cruising down a deserted motorway. This is not necessarily bad, just evidence of a sound that reflects the era it embodies.
  16. Consequence
    Oct 16, 2014
    58
    Trick might not be a must-have album for working DJs across the tech-house scene, but it’s an earnest passion project that will once again bring some new faces into the worlds of dance music and indie alike.
  17. Under The Radar
    Oct 14, 2014
    40
    Trick is more a straight rehash of '90s R&B than any kind of homage, and without the tunes to justify it.
  18. The 405
    Oct 7, 2014
    35
    Kele has instead chosen a route that doesn't challenge the listener or, it seems, himself.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. Brickfaced
    Oct 14, 2014
    7
    The Boxer derived from an eclectic mix of styles, drifting from the jittery electronics of Walk Tall, to the deadened acoustics of The NewThe Boxer derived from an eclectic mix of styles, drifting from the jittery electronics of Walk Tall, to the deadened acoustics of The New Rules, to the familiar indie rock roots of Unholy Thoughts, whereas Trick almost exclusively strikes out in a 90s garage R&B style. Simply put, The Boxer felt like a disconnected collection of songs, but Trick feels like...well, it actually feels like an album!

    Okereke’s past of interview avoidance and question dodging has always given him that awkward serious frontman persona, and as a member of Bloc Party, this persona always felt correct where the lyrics were concerned. And so when we get our ‘First Impressions’ from Trick, where Okereke sings ‘you're taking over me’ and ‘it’s only you I see’ we can immediately feel that serious frontman peel away, and for the rest of the record, we hear a different man. That is to say, Kele does everything Kele doesn’t ever do. This can be a bit intrusive at times, but Trick does at least offer a refreshing change from the more usual distance Okereke builds between himself and his audience.

    Unfortunately, Okereke does often fall victim to poeticism and overindulgence, and while his heart on sleeve approach is endearing at first, a little subtlety is something that would definitely be welcomed as the record progresses. That said, it isn’t too hard to look past overdone romanticism thanks to a sublime mixture of rhythmic electronics, ambiance and complimentary duets (think The xx having a love child with a decade of garage house), making tracks like First Impressions and Closer easy listening if nothing else.

    Regardless of your stance on the record, Trick doesn’t feel so much a project or an experiment as it does a testament to the man behind it, because for once, it’s a record where he truly feels at home. And to that end of things, there is very little criticism you can give him.    … Full Review »
  2. unholythoughts
    Oct 15, 2014
    9
    This a very well crafted piece of work. It marks Kele's first full-frontal foray after his recent entry into experimenting with UK Garage andThis a very well crafted piece of work. It marks Kele's first full-frontal foray after his recent entry into experimenting with UK Garage and House sounds. It paid off, too! Every tune sounds lush and sonically pleasing, with an infectious rhythm and very genuine lyrics backing each track. The two guest vocals counteract Kele's voice really well and pretty much all the hooks and choruses work on an insanely addictive level. Pure, romantic, fun, electronic music. I only wish it were longer.… Full Review »
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