Bloc Party showcase new tracks

By Damian Jones
Newsbeat reporter

Bloc Party playing at Reading Festival earlier this year

Bloc Party have showcased six tracks from their new album for a one-off show in London.

The New Cross four-piece played a mammoth 17 song set at the Forum for their first concert since Intimacy was released on the internet in August.

Kicking off the gig with new track Halo, the band went on to play five more tunes from their third record.

The group also mixed their set with a series of songs from their debut Silent Alarm and 2007's A Weekend In The City.

During the early part of their show, frontman Kele Okereke, who was wearing a Mickey Mouse t-shirt, took a jovial swipe at Keane, who played here on Monday.

He said: "We heard those chimps Keane played a gig here. That was a joke by the way."

The singer later backtracked even further when he added: "I must take that back we don't think Keane are a bunch of chimps. They are nice guys."

The band went on to play new songs Mercury, Signs, Ares recent single Talons and Better Than Heaven, which Okereke dedicated to the band's American fans in the crowd.

"This next song is dedicated to all the Americans in the place. Let's not worry about the bad times coming. Let's have a good time," the frontman said, drawing reference to the US's recent economic problems

Much of the crowd were in fine voice throughout their performance, even singing all the words to the intro of Song For Clay (Disappear Here).

Bloc Party later played their one-off single Flux before rounding off their show with trademark closer Helicopter.

The physical version of their new album will be released on 27 October. The band will also head out on a UK tour in the New Year.