“Take me into the void, ceremonia.”
It seems like yesterday that Blanket released their stellar EP, Blue Eyes, a project that would prove to give us insight into what this full length would sound like. Ceremonia is indeed a continuation of that shift in sound, and at a shorter length of about thirty five minutes with only ten tracks, we see this fully realized with cohesion.
Considering the front-loaded nature of this record, where three out of the four singles take the lead, let’s get straight to the point. The singles, when compared to the original cuts from Blue Eyes and nearly all other tracks on this record, seem to lack the same charm. Both the title track and “Euphoria” feature choruses that border on being abrasive, yet their outros are truly impressive. It’s regrettable because upon their release, these songs were enjoyable, and they still hold their place within the context of the record. However, it wouldn’t be fair to ignore how quickly they lost their appeal.
That sentiment slightly shifted when “Nuclear Boy Scout” was released. There are gorgeous moments on this song, especially vocally, but the instrumentation on this cut epitomizes what I think is the highlight of this album; the drumming. This track is entirely carried by the power of those snares and with not-so-subtle passages that Aiden Baldwin seems to pull out of his pocket on a whim. This track opening the album was particularly important because it sets up the next two singles which needed the boost “Nuclear Boy Scout” afforded them.
“Kaleidoscope” keeps the energy up with Blanket tapping more into their grunge sound. The eeriness of the verses and the tone of Simon Morgan’s guitar here make for a noticeable contrast against the preceding tracks. Taking the cake is the bizarre instrumental bridge where Simon’s discordant riffing breaks up what could have been a tame passage into the final chorus. However, on “Sea of Bliss (Reprise)”, we lose that streak entirely with a piano ballad. ‘The ballad’ of an album is almost always a gem for me, but with this project, it mostly fell flat. This reprise felt out of place at this point on the track listing, but I’m not sure I could pick a spot better for it. Bobby Pook’s vocals did not transmute the emotion they were trying to and the piano piece did not offer anything to counteract this loss for me. However, I can appreciate how it sounds just like you’re in the room with him and how abrupt the transition is into what is probably Blanket’s best song to-date; “Loom”.
“Loom” takes all the best aspects of this album, like the eccentric vocal filters, spectral-like melodies, and crushing drums, and combines them in a way that remains refreshing after every listen. It may be a little obnoxious to admit, but the breakdown on this song flowing into such an atmospheric, ghostly chorus, is the pinnacle of the entire record. Until this point, the album is sonically reserved in what it could have been, and “Loom” demonstrates that effectively. It’s as if the album rides this high during its back end considering the rest of these tracks exceed the quality that was initially presented to us.
Despite my interpretation of the reprise, “A Sea of Bliss” stands as another contender for the group’s best song. Reflecting the aura of the title, the extensive instrumental introduction to this opus has an unanticipated yet distinct Beach House style to it; an automatic win in my book. In fact, an entirely voiceless piece just like this would be a welcome addition to this record, but as is, this song is virtually perfect. The chorus is an experience in itself, like a slow motion sequence of waves crashing over the listener with its lethargic tempo. This could have worked as a closer for this project, but “Final Call” serves as a sister-song to “A Sea of Bliss” as it elaborates on their shared dream-pop influence. It’s the perfect conclusion to this emotional rollercoaster piece of work and left me with more appreciation for the previous cuts that felt inferior.
Ceremonia is a record that tends to showcase both Blanket’s growth and need to begin innovating on their sound. While some tracks falter or lose their allure in comparison to others, the LP still presents a compelling and satisfying journey. Moments like “Final Call”, “Loom,” and “A Sea of Bliss” demonstrate the band’s ability to piece together a mesmerizing atmosphere with captivating melodies. Ceremonia ultimately delivers a storybook experience that will leave listeners with a sense of completion.
7/10
Ceremonia will release March 22nd via Church Road Records and can be pre-ordered here.