Blanket have always had a visionary air about them. Both of their previous albums – 2018’s How To Let Go and 2021’s Modern Escapism – conjured vast soundscapes that took the listener on a sonic and narrative journey. Ceremonia does that too, but this time, everything sounds sharper and more focussed, with its creators’ vast sonic palette sounding less experimental and more purposeful than previous efforts. They’ve consistently been a great band, but here is the best Blanket have ever sounded. Ceremonia quickly establishes itself as the Blackpool quartet’s most accessible album yet. Opener Nuclear Boy Scout comes armed with a piercing guitar that sounds positively huge, and it’s followed by a title-track that’s laden with a sophisticated groove. Porcelain ...