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Will Copley (vocals and guitar), Clive Powell (guitar), Dave
Allsopp (bass) and Matt Carey (drums) formed the band “Fretblanket”
while in their early teens. They attended grade school together
in Stourbridge. An unusual thing about the band is that none
of the members have played in other bands. “Fretblanket”
has been their sole project. By the time the oldest band member
was fifteen, they had a few good songs; by seventeen they’d
made their debut album, “Junkfuel,” for Polydor. Now,
at twenty, their second release, “Home Truths from Abroad,”
is complete. “Fretblanket’s” vocal stylings remind me most of “Catherine Wheel” (see AMZ November 1997 and January 1998 issues), but musically, they bear little resemblance to that band. Their punk and grunge influence reminds me a bit of “Foo Fighters.” The album is an impressive mix of heavy and soft rock tunes. The single, “Into the Ocean,” begins with scratchy guitar and drum, that bass soon joins. It has a good downbeat and some Police-like single note guitar hits. I won’t say it’s the best song on the album, but it’s pretty good, showing much personality and some quirks. Track two, “Why Can’t I Sleep?,” has some funky guitar work. A few notes, followed by a rest, then repetition of the same notes, introduce the song. The effect is to throw the listener off balance, just as the insomniac would be after a sleepless night. There’s some echo on the vocals, and this song will make you want to move. I had trouble staying still long enough to write. “Supercool” starts off with fast guitar licks and a screaming, “Yeah, yeah, yeah. . .” There’s some spacey synthesizer thrown in for good measure, and the song ends in feedback. “Killer in a Former Life” starts off with acoustic softness, sometimes reminding me of the band “Dream Academy.” It’s a good song, with some thoughtful lyrics. “I never cared for anything/ I imagine people guessed/ And wanting me to play along isn’t something I’d suggest/ Doesn’t really matter what you achieve/ As long as you enjoy yourself barely/ Oh you are awful but I love it/ Oh you are awful but. . .no, no, no, you’re the best/ I’m the worst I’ve ever been/ And waited for my time to leave you far behind. . .” “Hammer and Tongues” pushes back toward a louder sound, opening with a relentless bass beat. Guitar and echoed voice join in. This would have made a better single for the album. It’s an excellent rocker with good backing vocals. “Fretblanket” manages to imbue a lot of energy in their songs, and it's clearly evident here. The song ends with a fade out. “Black Tambourine” begins with distortion sounding like a helicopter. It’s a pretty basic rocker with lots of voice distortion, and sound hills and valleys, where the music becomes loud and soft. Varied guitar sounds keep it interesting though. Melodic guitar highlights “The Modern Man.” The song winds its way through many changes, from loud to soft, moody to angry, and all of them seem appropriate. “Tell me I’m your everything/ All that you could need/ A savior and a hero/ Lie to me at least/ Tell me I need challenges/ A life full to the brim/ And a chorus line of motivators kickin’ my head in. . .” The rhythm is infectious, staying with you long after the song ends. Unfortunately, the song ends with an unimaginative fade out. “Moneyspin” is an average rocker. Echoed soft guitar and a synthesizer build up, then give way to a stronger, louder guitar, only to be replaced by heavy drum, soft vocals and winding background guitar. There are some nice effects here, but, as I said, only resulting in an average song. “Accident En Route” escapes the few flaws of “The Modern Man,” and is perhaps the best song on the album. Beautiful harmonies, and some strings, make a disturbing topic extremely listenable. The song reminds me of so many bands and songs that sound similar in places, but, ultimately, this is all “Fretblanket’s” show. “And I’m driving to the end and jackknife/ Driving to the end and so/ Take it straight with you/ But in the head its slow/ Driving to the end and. . .” It ends appropriately on a down note. “Abandon Ship” and “Green as Green” are loud rockers with scratchy guitar, a quick beat and good bass lines. Of the two, “Abandon Ship” is probably the better song, but they have little to distinguish them from anything else out there. “Me and the Stars" marks a return to the softer vocal driven sound found in “The Modern Man” and “Accident en Route.” Acoustic guitar is joined with a soft vocal and a plodding yet pleasing rhythm. “It’s me and the stars in the evening just fading away/ And waiting for you to return, I’ve been waiting all day/ And wanting to talk to you, hoping for something to say. . .” It’s a sweet, melancholy song, filled with loneliness and longing. “Home Truths From Abroad” is a refreshing, sometimes grungy album, yet it transcends that genre in places. This is a good solid album for “Fretblanket,” but it’s obvious from its depth that the band has even better albums inside them, just waiting to be born. |
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