{"id":3066,"date":"2017-02-08T17:00:34","date_gmt":"2017-02-08T17:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/already-heard-recommends-blanket\/"},"modified":"2018-05-01T20:06:10","modified_gmt":"2018-05-01T19:06:10","slug":"already-heard-recommends-blanket","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/already-heard-recommends-blanket\/","title":{"rendered":"Already Heard Recommends: blanket"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/figure>\n

For some, music is used as a form of escapism. It allows us to get lost in someone else\u2019s work and art. We can become entranced in their ideas and how a band has carefully crafted their music. With blanket<\/b>, you are guaranteed to do just that. Their debut EP, \u2018Our Brief Encounters\u2019<\/i>, takes you on a blissful journey of cinematic post-rock. However, this accomplishment has come at a price. For frontman Bobby Pook, the EP evolved into a cathartic project after suffering 3rd degree burns on his hands after the house he shared with guitarist Simon Morgan caught fire last summer. Having time to reflect on his situation following the fire, Pook was spurred on to make the project the best it could be.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt made us just want to give it our all. We had put a lot of money and time into the band already, but the fire and hospital gave me a lot of time to think and a lot of time to talk to the other guys and I realised we shared the same belief to do things properly,\u201d<\/i> says Bobby from his North West base.<\/p>\n

\u201cI personally am the proudest I\u2019ve ever been about anything I\u2019ve been involved with.\u201d<\/h1>\n

The band\u2019s formation started last February, Pook had been writing a film soundtrack, while his housemate was working on his solo project (Beneath The Watchful Eyes). However, when the pair found some free time they got together to write EP lead off single ‘Starlight Filled Our Minds\u2019<\/i>. Despite the housefire momentarily stopping the creation of the EP, bassist Matthew Sheldon and drummer Steven Pellatt joined the band soon after.<\/p>\n

‘Our Brief Encounters\u2019<\/i> rides a beautiful wave of post-rock, yet it might be a stylistic departure to some who are familiar with Pook\u2019s previous bands Me vs Hero and Downers. Nevertheless, Pook and company sound firmly at home in blanket<\/b>. \u201cI think with blanket it\u2019s a strange one,\u201d<\/i> says Pook. \u201cWe love it and I personally am the proudest I\u2019ve ever been about anything I\u2019ve been involved with.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

While the band\u2019s audio output has proven to be stunning, the visual side of blanket<\/b> is equally as impressive as Pook used his videography skills. It\u2019s an element that is key to the band as he explains, \u201cthe visuals are vital to this band. I don\u2019t doubt we could pull off a set without them. The idea behind the band was to be an audio\/visual project, and as it\u2019s written with a film soundtrack feel. We try and push them as much as possible.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

‘Our Brief Encounters\u2019<\/i> isn\u2019t just a collection of five tracks, it is 26 minutes of textured post-rock that seamlessly ebbs and flows. The combination of Pook\u2019s dreamy vocals and film (‘Lost In Translation)\u2019) and TV (‘The Office\u2019) samples serve as the narration, taking you on an emotional journey made up of trepidation, self-doubt, personal awareness, relief and hope. While subtle electronics add to the band\u2019s layered sound. From the apprehensive tone of ‘Acacia\u2019<\/i> to the spiralling, uplifting ‘Discoveries and Beginnings\u2019<\/i> to the awe-inspiring finale that is ‘To The Skies\u2019<\/i>, ‘Our Brief Encounters\u2019<\/i> is one of the 2017\u2019s most compelling releases so far.<\/p>\n

In regards to the EP being treated as a body of work, Pook tells us \u201cit is absolutely designed to be listened to like that. Grant (Berry – recorded\/mastered) and Lewis (Johns – mixed) helped us create them in a way that takes the listener on a journey of sorts. Until now, we have played the set as one continuous track also.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

When asked about influences, it\u2019s not surprising to hear Pook highlight some of the genre\u2019s biggest names. \u201cI\u2019ve loved Sigur Ros for years and that\u2019s probably quite apparent. the other guys came from post-rock bands and introduced me to bands like This Will Destroy You and Caspian. I really love Circa Survive and I think that come across on the record too.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

Although they only have a handful of shows under their belt, we get the feeling that blanket<\/b>\u2019s shows promise to be a spectacle, as they take advantage of their multimedia skills. \u201cOur live set is intense. We have visuals which are synced to our set,\u201d<\/i> says Bobby. \u201cOriginally we started playing with a short throw projector in front of the stage and made the venues turn off all the lights, which worked great. I think it creates a more immersive experience for the viewer. While with the help of Lewis from The Ranch, we basically sound like a more energetic and intense version of the record live. We are looking into stage mapping and all sorts at the moment to try and enhance the live experience.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

Moving forward, blanket<\/b> continue work on a full-length, as ‘Our Brief Encounters\u2019<\/i> has provided them with a canvas to expand. \u201cWe have evolved and improved in so many ways. The songs on ‘Our Brief Encounters\u2019 were written mostly as demo\u2019s by Simon and I, whereas every new song has had input from the whole band, and most importantly we\u2019ve written them in a room together\u201d<\/i> explains Bobby. \u201cWe\u2019ve been playing around with vocoders, time signatures, loads of textures and ambiences. I\u2019d be surprised if it doesn\u2019t blow people\u2019s minds to be honest, even though that might sound a little arrogant.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

Having pulled off an awe-inspiring debut release, blanket<\/b>\u2019s potential is cinematic in its size and sound. And we can\u2019t wait to see what they do next.<\/p>\n

‘Our Brief Encounters\u2019<\/i> by blanket<\/b> is released on 10th February.<\/p>\n

blanket<\/b> links: Facebook<\/a>|Twitter<\/a>|Instagram<\/a>|Bandcamp<\/a><\/p>\n

Words by S\u00eaan Reid (@SeanReid86<\/a>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For some, music is used as a form of escapism. It allows us to get lost in someone else\u2019s work and art. We can become entranced in their ideas and how a band has carefully crafted their music. With blanket, you are guaranteed to do just that. Their debut EP, \u2018Our Brief Encounters\u2019, takes you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":16103,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[508],"tags":[62,2260,122,12398],"class_list":["post-3066","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-recommends","tag-already-heard","tag-blanket","tag-feature","tag-sean-reid"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAlready Heard Recommends: blanket - Already Heard Staging<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"For some, music is used as a form of escapism. It allows us to get lost in someone else\u2019s work and art. 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