6/10

Since first embarking on a solo career away from Bloc Party with his 2010 solo album 'The Boxer', Kele Okereke has always looked to keep the sound of his two ventures as separate as possible. But while his two solo albums to date have been a mix of high-octane electronic pop and wild productions, 'Fatherland' sees him swap the keyboards for an acoustic guitar as he aims to strip back his direction to just the bare essentials.

While it seems like a vast change in direction for the frontman, it does keep him more in line with his work with Bloc Party than anything else. While sonically it remains different, his flair for politically motivated and humbly personal lyrics are what this record is all about. With a modest production, Okereke is able to become the focus of this new release and deliver a simple yet effective record that thankfully moves very elegantly from track to track.

It may not be the best thing we have heard from him, but it is clear from the start that he has a real passion for this more low-key style of music. Keeping a constant pace of intentions, 'Fatherland' is an enjoyable enough release that shows the true nature of his more vulnerable personality.