Heavy Blanket is a project by Dinosaur Jr. main man J.Mascis backed by schoolmates Pete Cougar and Johnny Pancake. They did release the first experiment in instrumental rock with hints of prog back in 2014 with a self-titled album, closely followed by In A Dutch Haze. After that layoff, they now have a new instrumental, six-track, thirty-five-minute opus, called Moon Is, for our edification.
Opener ‘Danny’ sets the scene very nicely with a track laced with some superb guitar… no shred, just melodic and cleverly phrased picking over a background riff that reminded me of Golden Earring and that’s a compliment. After that great start we move into the outright rock of the fuzzed riff (with Celtic and Sabbath overtones) of ‘Crushed’ which is another excellent slice of impeccably phrased guitar, backed by solid bass and drums. The title track is introduced by resounding bass with great tone and a simplistic but irresistible melody. The guitar again speaks volumes as it wanders freely over the backing of this slower and heavier song. ‘String Along’ moves into heavy psyche and its eight minutes fly by in a wealth of guitar histrionics that are never overdone. Then, when you think it can’t get heavier the ponderous and magnificent closing track, ‘Say It To You’ employs that weighty bass for the guitar to range across in another demonstration of quality guitar playing.
If you don’t mind instrumentals or even if you do, this is a very powerful album that has much to say (without words) and is an aural delight – give it a listen.
Moon Is is out on 27th January via Outer Battery Records.
