Blanket - 'True Blue' Album Review

Sean Friswell
51 minutes ago
3 min read

Tracklist:

1. The Swallows Reflecting In The Water

2. Hole In My Head

3. Levitate

4. Bind (feat Wayside)

5. Leaning On You

6. Summer Skin (feat Lynsey Ward)

7. Wallflower

8. True Blue

Post-hardcore/rock genre-bending Blackpool four piece Blanket are back with their fourth album 'True Blue', releasing on January 16th via Adventure Cat Records.

'The Swallows Reflecting In The Water' kicks off the album with a tonne of atmosphere, throwing you right in to the Shoegazey tone of the record and providing a good intro to 'Hole In My Head'. With a strong sense of rhythm and an ethereal feel to it, with some moments that almost feel like it is a cracking façade (particularly the harmonic guitar squeal), it is a great introduction to the world of 'True Blue'.

'Levitate' maintains that ethereal feel, bringing more of a clarity to the vocals. This track feels both urgent and laid back, almost as if something is trying to break out. The instrumentation is extremely tight, with the bass and drums particularly shining through in comparison to the effects-laden guitars, almost frantic at points.

Slowing the pace down, we have 'Bind', featuring Wayside. The lyrics are obsessive and borderline creepy, "If we bind ourselves together, We could be forever tethered" being half whispered out against that one again ethereal, beautiful guitar work. To me it almost feels like a musical cross between the films Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind and the horror movie Together, creating a very interesting but nonetheless brilliant song.

'Leaning On You' keeps the pacing dead slow, creating a haunting atmosphere, which is reflected in the lyrics "I’ve tried again a thousand times, But I’ve hit the bottom". The instrumentation is droning and repetitive, and very bare bones, however it still manages to remain interesting over the track's four minutes run time.

Picking up the pace a touch, we have 'Summer Skin', which features Lynsey Ward of Exploring Birdsong. The harmonies between the two vocalists are absolutely breathtaking, the guitars cleaned up slightly compared to the rest of the album to really enhance the vocals, with some driving drums to back it up, we also get a glimpse of the heavier side of Blanket's sound at the end with some masterful screams that are blended with the guitars, at points becoming almost indistinguishable.

Penultimately is 'Wallflower'. Once again, the lyrics have that almost creepy quality to them, "Wallflower, Your eyes are watching only me, Devour, My skin if only for a while", but they're delivered in such a compelling and near comforting way, with a perfect instrumental backing that feels reflective and mournful, with long protracted guitar notes juxtaposed against sharp, short drum beats and bass.

Finally comes the title track, 'True Blue'. Feeling a bit more frantic than the rest of the album, with moments of respite coming before the drums kick back in, the pacing of the song is masterfully handled. Each member of the band works in tandem so well, complimenting each other beautifully, especially in the cacophonous crescendo that builds up to the outro in a piece of masterful production.

Having only recently delved into Blanket's back catalogue, I found myself loving the almost Deafheaven/Deftones sound they produced in 2024's 'Ceremonia' the most, with moments of Shoegaze influence creeping into the undeniable post-hardcore grit, and I was admittedly a little hesitant about the switcheroo pulled within 'True Blue', however going almost full Shoegaze has produced a truly wonderful record. This is a band who is not afraid to let their sound evolve from album to album, and it just simply works. I, for one, look forward to seeing where they go next, but for now will enjoy the hell out of what they've currently produced.