Albums

Dutch Husband - Fantasy Blanket & The Fall Chorus

Matt Harrold 28/02/2008

Rating: 2/5

If the truth be known there is actually one word that could be used to decribe Dutch Husband's 'Fantasy Blanket & The Fall Chorus' it would be this: Pavement. Yes it seems that Bournemouth has finally discovered the 90's and in doing so have embraced it without bothering to check to see what happened in the 00's. Not to say that retro hasn't got it's place in music but Blur stole from Pavement already and it's hard to imagine seminal Americana translating itself into a coastal town better known for it's ageing OAP population then producing hit music.

Opening track 'Sleep Heroics' is an instrumental lullaby of lo-fi proportions, tempting your muscles to relax into your seat as the guitars gentle playing lulls you to sleep, but what's this? Ha-ha! It was but a diversionary tactic as they slipped through the gears to get the car rolling. It's a fast paced fuzz out with 'The Board vs. The Body Count' which conjures up a very stoned Graham Coxon deciding to jack in the heavy rifts. Drums trip over themselves into the west coast slacker of Gratitude with it's beach boy inspired harmonies whilst 'Adult Hands Throw Rocks From the Pram' throws sax into the mix. 'Rope' leads you down the path into the fields beyond with it's own country guitar charm, almost feeling like the slow dance song for a village barn dance.

There's a problem though. See at least a few tracks should stick out to hook you into an album. Most bands understand this, most bands intentionally include something called a 'single'. Yep, tracks that will latch their pop hooks into your brain and pull you back every time you think you've had enough. Can you feel Dutch Husband on the other end of the rod? Erm...no. The only vibe you'll get from the end of 'Fantasy Blanket & The Fall Chorus' is the overwhelming urge to thank god you haven't fallen asleep. It's a draining listen to listen all the way through, not emotionally like a Radiohead album but just a complete lack of pacing apart from the aforementioned 'The Board vs. The Body Count'. A competent but ultimately forgetful affair in the end.