It was announced on 8 September 2008 that the song would be released as a digital download to all those who had purchased the mp3 version of the band's album.

The download was made available straight after the song's first play on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show on 9 September 2008.

Talking about "Talons" on Bloc Party's official website, frontman Kele Okereke said: “We wanted to keep things fresh and we thought the fans would be more excited to get a new song rather than something off the album.

Talons is one of the last songs we recorded during the Intimacy sessions and I always had it in mind to be one of the extra tracks we promised for the CD if it turned out well.

It’s quite liberating in a way, I’m sure it’s going to be the way things happen more and more in the future”Bloc Party – "Talons" on YouTube