Mississipi’s own indie-pop crooner Dent May continues to experiment in increments. Warm Blanket shares in splendours characteristic of its pop-tastic predecessor, Do Things, released just over a year ago. For better or worse, it’s a familiar release, May milking a little more from a tried-and-true formula.
In its makeup, Warm Blanket is a dash more daring than anything May has attempted in his fledgling career. An accomplished multi-instrumentalist, he’s sprinkled a little bit of everything upon the LP’s eleven tracks, from brass to strings to synthesiser. In that sense, Warm Blanket is brave, with plenty bubbling away in May’s indie-pop cauldron. Is it disappointing, then, that it never strays too far from Do Things? Maybe, maybe not. Everything that worked in May’s last outing certainly works here and, to be fair, still shows life. If you enjoyed the direction and aesthetic of Do Things, you’ll find plenty to like about this third album.
May once again exudes an undeniable charm, specialising in sugary pop confections, each drenched in romance and sentimentality. Though overall it lacks the immediacy of May’s previous efforts, Warm Blanket still has its share of infectious gems. The defiant Let Them Talk and saccharine funk of Born Too Late make for potent first impressions, generating instant excitement for the LP ahead. Ultimately, although familiar, Warm Blanket marks yet another intensely likeable release from May.
BY NICK MASON
Best Track: Born Too Late
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: Oversaturated EP RUBBLEBUCKET, Exploding Impacting BELAIRE
In A Word: Charming
