Album of the Week #11
Join the National Trust!
Spend a hazy day on the English Coastline with Blanketman’s debut EP
While searching for albums to write about this week, I decided to further pursue the series British alt, punk, and indie that had filled my playlists these past few months. While flicking through the latest releases, I landed on Blanketman’s debut EP, National Trust, a quaint and exciting album whose album art is reminiscent of those tiled designs you find on subway stations and transit stops.
The Manchester-based quartet’s sound is a healthy blend of indie surfer-rock, brit-pop and post-punk, pulling from hometown influences such as The Smiths and Joy Division. With a smattering of new-age energy and twangy guitar leads, they wouldn’t go amiss at a show with Parquet Courts and Alvvays slated on the bill.
I find myself strangely nostalgic as I lose myself in the cascading guitar riffs and thumping drums, recalling the time I spent in the UK as a kid. Blanketman’s relatable lyrics and hazy sound remind me of walking along with the concrete dams to islets along the Eastern coast when the tide was out. It’s not a Californian Baywatch type of coastal rock pop, but a grey, drizzling day instead. Much like how the beaches there are rocky and shingle laden, there’s a certain grit to National Trust that gives it that British tinge; This is the perfect music to grab a 99 and watch the local ships go by.
Blanketman weaves themes of feeling down, leaving your hometown, and mundane adventures between references to longstanding British institutions and everyday life. Their eponymous song, “National Trust” invokes memories of day trip picnics to one of England’s many sprawling castles, narrowly avoiding upper-class pensioners who paid for preferred parking and premium access. It is a strangely specific song that captures the excitement of ditching the city life in favour of the countryside and exploring the British cultural heritage sites.
“Dogs Die in Hot Cars” is a tongue-in-cheek tale that advocates for introspection while warning you of the obvious consequences of leaving your pet in a warm vehicle. The chorus of howls that punctuate each verse is a fun onomatopoeic feature.
Despite being upbeat, “Blue Funk” is a surprisingly dour account of feeling off, which I find especially relatable, especially during some of the more isolating days during the lockdown. Lines such as “Now I no longer feel the beauty in the songs I love” as eerie as they are impactful.
Continuing with my current British blast from the past, National Trust is a pocket-sized time capsule that captures my childhood experiences of the English coast. Pulling sound and style from previous Mancunian giants with a modern twist, Blanketman is a refreshing, merry, ride on a wave of cascading releases.
Fav Tracks: National Trust, Dogs Die in Hot Cars, Blue Funk and Beach Body.
For Fans Of: Joy Division, The Smiths, Parquet Courts, Alvvays and Surf Curse.
