U.K. post-rock quartet
Blanket
put out their debut EP,
Our Brief Encounters
, in late 2017 to rapturous response from the alternative scene. It demonstrated the band's affinity for crafting intricate soundscapes that morphed through stages of loud and quiet with an assorted plethora of timbre, drawing from other largely instrumental acts such as
Caspian
and
Explosions in the Sky
. On their first full-length, they open things in style with title track "How to Let Go." It delivers a somber yet hopeful piano piece which recalls the title track intro of
Smashing Pumpkins
'
Melon Collie & the Infinite Sadness
. Around the minute-and-a-half mark, walls of overdriven guitar, thundering drums, and trem-picked riffs crash in like a tidal wave of noise. The beginning of "Our Tired Hearts" brings to mind the sound of Texan outfit
This Will Destroy You
and their 2006 EP
Young Mountain
; beautifully strummed guitar chords swim through waves of reverb before simmering cymbals and thudding kick drum carry the mix to an almighty thunderous crescendo. However, it's the last third of the record that really strikes the ear. One of the few cuts to feature vocals, "Turn Ourselves to Stone" is composed of wonderfully illustrative lyrics, ornate guitar melodies, and pulsating electronic beats, akin to the feel of
65daysofstatic
. Album-closer "Immemorial Sea" is another surefire highlight: Delicate and paced, it's a fine example of the cinematic qualities and influences that
hold so dear. ~ Rob Wacey