With just a handful of singles under their belts, the Manchester band have already found support from the likes of Clash, DIY, Dork, The Forty-Five, The Line of Best Fit, NME and So Young, along with a Next Wave slot from Jack Saunders on BBC Radio 1, New Names feature from Annie Mac, a Ones To Watch pick from Huw Stephens, a track of the week from Shaun Keaveny @ BBC 6 Music whilst further support from Steve Lamacq, Tom Robinson and Marc Riley, plays from Matt Wilkinson on Beats 1, as well as playlist spots at NME Radio and Amazing Radio.
Back in March 2020, the band’s debut single “Taking You With Me” marked the arrival of a band full of ideas, and cut a boundless, energetically pop edge that saw them likened to early Blur. Follow-up “Beach Body” dialed up the urgency and distilled a swift insistence, on top of which vocalist Adam Hopper masterminded a trove of indelible melodies, dedicated to the ailing Brit-abroad. The band wrapped up 2020 with “Harold”, which brought with it a thumping, wonky and rowdy execution and then saw in the new year with "Leave The South". On the back of 12 months that has seen much made about the divide between the north and south of England, "Leave The South" seeks not to pit the regions against one another, and instead offers a far more nuanced look at the way the grass can always appear greener on the other side. It also acts as something of a love-letter of absent friends and an admission that nothing is perfect. National Trust looks at themes of feeling trapped and anxious, but also the hopes held toward eventual liberation from that feeling.
Lead vocalist and guitarist Adam Hopper elaborates:
"The song harks back to five years ago when I was living in Reading while at uni. While not a bad place, I found my final year tough and was becoming disillusioned with what I was doing and where I was. I was in a rut mentally and my friends had stayed up north and I found myself feeling increasingly isolated and skint. I managed to convince myself that moving back up North would solve all my problems like it was some kind of utopia and started blaming where I was for said problems. I laugh at that now and that’s what the song is about. Although the water really does taste better up North..."
Recent years have seen the band spearheading a burgeoning scene in Manchester as they gigged extensively throughout the city, performing their original brand of restless post-punk and cerebral indie-pop – all served with a sharper, more sardonic pop edge than many of their more po-faced peers. So sharp in fact that Steve Hanley, of The Fall and Brix Smith & Extricated, has performed live on stage with them a number of times already.
STAFF COMMENTS
Barry says: Is there no end to the wonderfully talented indie bands coming from around our fair shores? 'National Trust' sees Blanketman forging their own path adjacent to well known indie greats, via the jagged hooks and militant percussion of post-punk. It's a more upbeat take on the rigidity of the genre, with bright and airy hooks perfectly tempering the distorted guitars and satisfying droll vox.
TRACK LISTING
Beach Body
Leave The South
Harold
Dogs Die In Hot Cars
Blue Funk
National Trust
The Tie
