Ever since Blossoms burst onto the scene in 2016, they’ve shown a loving quality that not many would disagree with. Whether it be their colourful flares or picture-perfect hair, the band have charmed their way to the forefront of the scene and not looked back since. Unsurprisingly, the sound of their music matches their brand. Initially searching the sonic pool of indie noises to find their tone, Blossoms started to find their space in the industry through the dreamy synths they’ve become increasingly associated with. The obvious ‘Charlemagne’ paved the way for that vintage sound the band have become synonymous with – perhaps one of the biggest compliments you can give to a group. From then onwards, the quintet proved they were serial hit makers with ‘Your Girlfriend’ and ‘There’s A Reason Why’. As the run-in to their fifth album approached there was a decision to be made in the creative direction the band went. First on the agenda was to keep having fun.
On a healthy listening diet of Hall & Oates, Bowie and Blondie, Blossoms locked themselves in a house on the Anglesey seafront to binge their creative talents. The result was a tightly knitted 10-song-length record. They now only needed to name the thing. “In the end, it could only be Gary”.
‘Gary’ is both the name of the album, a single and a giant gorilla statue that was stolen from a garden centre in Lanarkshire; the inspiration behind the self-titled track. It’s one of the band’s most infectious songs yet (which is saying something), being written with luscious guitar leads layered over witty lyrics of singer Ogden begging the gorilla to come home. If you’re looking for something a bit more hardcore, you’re probably looking in the wrong place.
Further on, ‘Perfect Me’ has the DNA of a Quadrophenia track with its underlying retro repeating synths, while also having the charm of a perfectly written modern day pop banger. While Ogden’s vocal phrasing at times threaten to become tiring, the song never overstays its welcome – a common theme with the rest of the album. Blossoms know what they need to deliver across the board, a half-an-hour soundtrack for your 80s throwback party. With the rest of the album cuts, there’s a handful of picks.
Opening track ‘Big Star’ was written after Ogden saw a famous music journalist in a bar and felt too nervous to say hello, thus prompting questions of desire over his own fame. It’s a retrospective track hidden amongst the usual booming choruses of whizzing keyboards and funky rhythm chords while showing lyricism that die-hard Blossoms fans will tell you has been there from the start. Meanwhile, ‘I Like Your Look’, a collaborative effort with Irish singer CMAT has an excellent bass line and shines where previously mentioned ‘Perfect Me’ falters. Having clearly recently listened to Blondies’ ‘Rapture’, Ogden replicates Debbie Harry’s flow down to every beat. The band knows it’s cheesy, and they’re having fun with it. ‘Cinnamon’ also shows the band’s Manchester roots with its Smiths-influenced instrumental. The track doesn’t have any of Morrisey’s autumn blues-inspired writing, though, and instead sings of edibles and miracles. It’s all the better for it.
As things wrap up on the record with the closer, ‘Why Do I Given You The Worst Of Me?’, it’s become evidently clear that Blossoms have given themselves free rein to be themselves, on their own record label. There’s plenty of insight into the band’s life to bolster the instrumentals too, with ‘Mothers’, reflecting on the band’s friendships while showing parallels to their parents. But amongst the introspection, Blossoms have delivered what they always deliver – a soundtrack for your very own dance floor.
Words by Niall McGreevy