If you have followed the career of Blanket to date, then you’ll know their sound is rooted in being expansive. Having initially formed as a cinematic post-rock outfit, the North West quartet have moulded themselves into a shoegaze rock band, one that thrives in serving sonic grandeur. On their fourth album, ‘True Blue,’ they anchor down on the lush textures and pair it with a vulnerable and introspective narrative.
After a swirling wall of guitars makes up ‘The Swallows Reflecting In The Water,’ ‘Hole In My Head’ kickstarts the album with jangly guitars clashing with Lucas Fletcher’s explosive drum work. At the same time, Bobby Pook’s misty vocals drift underneath, begging to be heard. Lines such as “disappointment with myself, Too hard up to ask for help” present an image of internal struggle. Simon Morgan’s grungy guitar, along with Ash Betton’s hard-edged bass, complements the inner strife, creating a whirlwind of chaos.
‘Levitate’ maintains the grunge/alt-rock sound, reminiscent of Basement, yet Pook’s ethereal vocals remain. His words of emotional detachment do their best to pierce through the sonic wall of sound, yet never quite do so. Throughout ‘True Blue’, there are frustrating moments where Pook’s voice gets lost amid a sea of swirling guitars and penetrative percussion. Yet it makes cuts such as ‘Bind’ and album centrepiece, ‘Wallflower’, that more immersive. On the latter, screeching guitars give way to a structure of tender verses and resonant choruses, all the while Pook’s observant words are tucked away, drawing you in. It provides a layer of intimacy within Blanket‘s cinematic scope.
Undoubtedly, their strength is producing an encompassing sound, yet moments such as ‘Leaning On You’ emphasise the quartet’s structural awareness. It’s soft, drifting build is hypnotic, providing a welcome respite. It melts into ‘Summer Skin’ where Lynsey Ward (Exploring Birdsong, and 1/3 of the so-called “Vessellettes” aka Espera) joins Pook on vocals. Together, they sing of fleeting moments of connection and vulnerability. Backed by surging instrumentation, it’s a stirring and blissful highlight.
As a unit, Blanket are consistent and impactful. While Pook’s vocals occasionally struggle to cut through the sonic density, when clarity emerges, the reflective narrative resonates with poignant intimacy. ‘True Blue’s blustery haze comes off as assured and personal, cohesive with Blanket‘s brand of driving shoegaze. At under 40 minutes, the album feels somewhat brief, yet its conciseness ensures their encompassing sound remains potent throughout. A thoughtful addition to their steadily growing catalogue.
‘True Blue’ by Blanket is released on January 16th on Adventure Cat Records.
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