Blanketman release debut EP ‘National Trust’
The quartet misses the target by an inch or two, but still manage to produce an incredible post-punk driven EP.
Photo: Through The Eyes of Ruby
With their debut EP, Blanketman instantly cements themselves as a band to be taken seriously. The project wastes no time introducing you to the youthful energetic indie sound of the 2000s. The opening track, Beach Body, immediately throws the listener to a warm summer’s day, with an infectious optimism and a hook you won’t be able to help yourself from singing along to—the encapsulating repetition of “lift off!”
This joyful kineticism persists throughout the EP, maybe to a fault, as I think the tracklist would benefit massively from a more heartfelt subtle effort from the band. Dogs Die In Hot Cars is the closest the EP has to a breather. The rhythm and lead guitar tones seen here are reminiscent of some of Arctic Monkeys’ notorious earlier work.
The bass effortlessly shines through on this particular song, accompanied by a tone that is invitingly warm & comforting. The verses becoming sparser with the instrumental arrangement is a more than welcome change—I only wish it had lasted longer, giving you not long to prepare yourself before the post-chorus launches back into the “in-your-face” vibe of the previous tracks.
At first, I wasn’t sure about the title track, what with it being the shortest of the bunch, but National Trust is probably my favourite off the EP—undoubtedly a grower. Some of the best songs often are.
The production is top-notch, with Luke Smith (producer of projects by Foals & Depeche Mode) effortlessly layering each band member in a pleasant and complete sounding mix, something that can too often go horribly wrong. The decision to record the project live was well-articulated and an extremely bold move from the foursome, with everyone delivering equally solid and consistently enjoyable performances throughout. I can only imagine how hard it must’ve been to keep up their energy levels, so hats off to them for pulling this one out of the bag.
After reading through vocalist Adam Hopper’s interview for DIY Magazine, it’s very clear he has a deep lifelong love for music—which is implicit throughout Blanketman’s music—with all the attention and care put into coating the songs’ vocals in subtle harmonies, adding to the experience for listeners opting to use headphones.
The lyrics on the other hand very rarely did much for me, apart from the previously mentioned catchy hook of Beach Body and the melodic phrasing of the pre-chorus of Blue Funk. For me, some more personal moments would bridge the gap between me, a new listener and fan, and an exciting up-and-coming band.
The sonic similarities to bands like Sports Team aren’t a huge surprise, what with the recent post-punk indie revival era now seemingly in full force. This project isn’t trying to shift the tectonic plates of the music world, nor does it need to. National Trust is an incredibly solid first effort that quickly defines what it is and gives you seven unapologetically electric and equally thrilling tracks.
Catch them on tour this year:
