‘Driftwood’ is the new EP from Blackpool’s Boston Manor, released this October on Failure By Design Records. It’s six tracks of positive, up-tempo pop punk that matches anything we’ve heard from a UK band in the genre this year. It’s also a marked improvement on the band’s debut EP, 2013’s ‘Here / Now’ and that’s great to see.
So let’s talk through the positives here. ‘Salt Water’ isn’t your average throwaway intro track from the off. It may start a little inconspicuously but it quickly comes to life with it’s pace and focus. Then you have lead single ‘Peach State’ with it’s excellent drumming, huge pre-chorus and fun melody. We’re big fans of the stripped down bridge into the infectious final chorus here too. The title track, ‘Driftwood’, admittedly isn’t as infectious, but for us it’s the band’s most accomplished track to date. It builds nicely throughout and has a really strong vocal melody (and accompanying lyrics too). The use of the Ferris Bueller quote here is a nice touch too.
From there the second half of ‘Driftwood’ is just as quick and arguably more focused at times. ‘Wolf’ has a really punchy guitar riff to open, continues at break-neck speed, and then unexpectedly slows things down a minute in. The track builds again before slamming into another huge riff and a solid outro. If that wasn’t enough then ‘See You In Three Years’ is technically strong, and closing track ‘Square One’ has a poppier edge in the vocals and an unexpected choral backing vocal to end the EP. These are all large upswings from their debut release – itself a good listen but often lacking that edge you hear here.
So is there any room for improvement here? Of course there is. Despite ‘Peach State’ being the single of choice it does feel like Boston Manor need to find a track that’ll break them out. They need that stand out, set closing moment, to take them to the next level. On this evidence they certainly have that potential and it’ll need to be found if they go onto release a debut album.
The success of Neck Deep, Gnarwolves and Mallory Knox has opened the door for UK bands this year and Boston Manor could easily be the next ones to step through it. ‘Driftwood’ is an excellent EP and one that gives the band room to mature into. It’s available to stream currently and you can purchase it physically from Failure By Design Records.
TOM BECK