My Little Stick Of Blackpool Rock
Being part of the Creepercult, a tweet was sent telling us all to check out a band called Boston Manor. As you know, I do as I am told, and so now I am checking them out. Attacking from the North, they bring with them all the excitement and energy of the funfair, the bleakness of a Midwinter set against the sticky, sweet fudge and delicious rock that this seaside resort provides. Before I start, please lads when you come to Birmingham can you bring me some rock, the fruit flavoured variety, many thanks. (Also, please send some to my colleagues at Original Rock, Kieran and Guy, thanks)
Okay, headphones in, here we go slowly up the roller coaster track, (sorry I couldn’t resist the theme park reference) you can feel the chain underneath, ticking over gently, you see yourself moving away from the ground, and then get brought back down to earth with a thud unlike any other.
“If you could leave you would”, is taken from the title track; this is the story of my life, if truth be told I think it’s the story of most of our lives. Boston Manor have held up a mirror, they are knocking on the door of your conscience, the question is; will you answer? We have our dreams, but with no way of accomplishing them, so the ordinary folk plod along as usual, day in day out, have a moan now and again, and then continue towards a nothingness.
Fresh from a successful 2000 Trees and Download, we trudge across familiar territory, displaced souls in an even more displaced society. In a recent interview, singer Henry Cox admits that he doesn’t hold the answer to life’s ailments, but what he and his band of merry men deliver here is more than just a mere sticking plaster.
The next song is “Flowers in your Dustbin”, I love the music here, it just gallops along like a thoroughbred; the wind in its hair and tail swishing merrily. Henry Cox is a pleasure to listen to, very clean, clear vocals that convey important messages quickly and at times quite brutally.
“Halo” is up next, this is a single from the album. It talks of drug addiction, something we’ve heard before, but I really like the lyrics on this one,
“A thick brown belt on my arm again, a tablespoon full of tar again” leading into a sing-a-long chorus that illuminates the problems that we face.
“I can see your halo fall”
A lyric that reminds me of Oscar Wilde who once said, “A halo doesn’t have to fall far to become a noose”.
Quite chilling actually, because you realise how fractured we are, how vulnerable and how weak we have become.
There is a change in gear now as “England’s Dreaming” brings an essence of Gary Numan with an industrial feel which adds another dimension to create layers and maintain interest in the songs. I can see this on a horror film soundtrack like when Marilyn Manson covered “Sweet Dreams “and it was part of the soundtrack for “House on Haunted Hill”. I really like the feel of this song.
I love the lyric in “Funeral Party”
“Give me cheap alcohol and put me on the dole”
Like a shot in the arm, a stinging and sadly, accurate reminder of how life is for some people. It’s difficult at times but compassion must be paramount when addressing such delicate topics; although it is much easier to sit in judgment. Musically it generates a power surge that tears through you and there is no option but to admit defeat. We have been well and truly caught with our trousers down.
The song “Digital Ghost” for me encapsulates what it means to be a singer. I love the contrast in the softer voice, and then Mr Cox shouts at you.
Next on this candid and coarse conveyer belt is “Tunnel Vision”, with its soaring and uplifting melody, and its defeatist lyrics,
“We’re still headed for the edge” making melancholy sound incredibly jolly; you’ll be prancing around the room in utter dejection and despair- if there was ever such a thing. I think I’ll have to patent this notion.
“Bad Machine” is the next single from this album. This has a factory floor, heavy duty gloom, there is a sincerity, a diligence, insight and forethought that exist on this record that is consistent and cohesive.
“You float like a butterfly, you sting like a bee”,
The imagery can be seen as shocking but necessary when a point needs to be made.
A little bit of bullying is in order next with “If I Can’t Have It No One Can” and the menacing line
“Don’t you ever question me”
I’m willing to bet many of us have been on the receiving end of that kind of talk.
Swiftly followed by the charming words
“I Hate You, You Hate Me”
That’s nice to know lads, shall I carry on reviewing this?
I’ll listen to “FY1” while I decide, a nice interlude, like waiting for the correct signal to transmit the next tune where we find cowboy Henry and his cohorts in their leather chaps striding into the Pure Noise Saloon and announcing
“If nobody moves, then nobody dies”
That’s me behind the bar, gingerly passing them the whiskey and glasses
After suitable imbibing, we ease into the final song and it is a corker. “The Day I Ruined Your Life” has a stunning acoustic that transports you away, even for a few moments, only to be awakened by these choice words,
“Can hardly look you in the eye, ‘cos I’ve got to pick the day that I ruin your life”
I think this a very well written and well executed album and although I really enjoyed the music, I found it extremely sad, in a no cash, no hope, no future kind of way. However, there is a beauty amidst the bleakness.
We know that our lives are scarred, we probably even know what needs to be done, but apathy and inaction seem to be the order of the day. Our failings have been highlighted in Day-Glo ink for the world to see.
Nevertheless, I know my little stick of Blackpool rock will not fail us.
Boston Manor – Welcome To The Neighbourhood out 7th September on Pure Noise Records.