Blossoms - Songs From The Wedding Cake: A Review

Words: Corey Bissell

An album built from the love life of Tom Ogden, what more could you want. Blossoms latest record songs from the wedding cake is sure to dominate the charts in the coming weeks, and rightly so. The record, aptly named the nickname of Stockport town hall, the venue Ogden tied the knot at, is another step in a direction that has brought them so much success.

Following up their previous album Gary was always going to be a tall order, but Blossoms have served up yet another slice of brilliance for us to fall into.

Joke about divorce opens up the album, and straight away you can tell you’re listening to a blossoms track with guitar tones that have become almost synonymous with the Stockport group. The song takes us through an inner monologue of regret around attempting to turn an argument into a harmless joke, about divorce… 

And if you needed anything more, the song features the iconic Rick Astley on backing vocals.

Husband comes next, featuring more of the electronic sound that makes you feel as though you’re inside a video game, and displays Toms journey and commitment to being a good partner. Husband does everything a great album track should, it maintains the same vibe the band are clearly aiming for and provides us with yet another upbeat feel good Blossoms song.

Meet me in love, need I say more. As with joke about divorce, this song has been attaching itself to my brain since its release as a single, and listening to it all over again is a treat. This is a standout on this curation, featuring one of THE catchy choruses and an infectious bass driven sound. Also deserving of massive credit is Natalie Findlay for her stripped back chorus that adds so much to the song. A masterpiece. 

The Kardashians almost have as many songs about them as they do brands, but if you were to ask them if they thought they’d have an almost funk song made about them by singer who caught his wife so hungover she was crying at their reality show, I’m not quite sure they’d believe you. That said, the Kardashians is a brilliant addition to the album and moves the record along nicely. 

The next feature on the album comes in the shape of Additional Driver alongside one of this generations best in Declan Mckenna. The only way I can explain McKenna's chorus contribution to this song, is a 70s disco dance battle. I hope that resonates, but with the high pitched swinging vocals, and frankly impressive moustache he emits serious glitter ball energy. Pair that with the idea of being pulled other by the police alongside Blossoms and you can probably already picture what the music video will look like.

Fall into you takes us slightly away from the general sound found within the grooves of this record, and leans back to the kind of thing blossoms displayed on foolish living spaces, immediately reminding me of songs like if you think this is real life or my swimming brain. It’s nice to have that side of blossoms still being displayed as they develop, and is a real welcomed hit of nostalgia.

The drum led Guts follows, and is underneath the strange lyrics such as ‘I wish I had your guts’ and ‘let me count the ways I’d never hurt you’ a brilliant love song on how Tom feels about his wife, and how she has and continues to help him, saying she’s ‘the reason I’m not fucked’. Sonically it also could be said to be harping back to the sound of albums of old rather than what has been displayed on the first half of this project.

Uma Thurman and rocky horror mentioned in a blossoms song, it’s reminiscent of when 42s got a mention. This song is quite honestly, mental, and I’m here for it because it is a serious needle mover that helps put this up there for album of the year contender. An honest, and open Tom lists off little things about his partner that are what he says ‘got me to the alter’ and he quite honestly displays how he knows next to nothing about some of her interests, even namedropping wikipedia, yet loves her for it. true to himself, they’re all beyond stupid, which is I think what love is meant to be.

Where have you been my whole life? The question all of us are asking post album. Another feature with Inhalers Elijah Hewson coming in to help out with vocals on this one, and yet another upbeat song to dance around your room to, we all do it, you’re allowed. A perfect moment to take for the production of this album as well, with Shawn Lee doing a sensational job throughout, with a lot going on in the vast majority of the album, Lee does a great job to pull everything into a cohesive sensation.

We unfortunately reach the end of this album, fittingly, at the deep end. Slow, almost quiet in a way paying homage again, to Toms other half. And this feels as though it was constructed just for the pair, a slow dance in the kitchen, an inside joke, a loving gaze in a crowded room, this song feels like eye contact, and brings one of my favourite projects released this year, to an end.

Overall, this is a sheer display of love and devotion, all made for Katie Ogden, and I hope, and don't doubt, she enjoys it just as much as we all do.