Boston Manor

Boston Manor Review - Great Hall 14/10/22

Boston Manor are back and better than ever with their newest release ‘Datura’ which will

serve as part one of two releases. The Blackpool five piece saw themselves shoot even

further into the limelight in 2020 with mammoth ‘GLUE’, it was going to be hard to top an

album like this. Earlier this year they were finally able to tour ‘GLUE’, bringing alongside

them Movements and Jools.

‘Datura’ was released on October 14th 2022, when the band were in the heart of Cardiff

ready to perform an acoustic show and a supporting role for Alexisonfire. I was able to catch

both sets, solidifying for me that Boston Manor are simply one of the best live bands of

modern times. The album opens to title track ‘Datura (Dusk)’ which is a very Boston Manor

way to open the album; the lyrics ‘we’re scared and we’re alone’ haunting their way through

the track. We then move onto my personal favourite from the record ‘Floodlights on the

square’ in which we get a further glimpse into vocalist Henry Cox’s wonderful vocals. The

two powerhouse singles of the album are next with ‘Foxglove’ and ‘Passenger’ with catchy

choruses and hooks that will become staples at live shows. Whilst I found ‘Crocus’ to be my

least favourite on the album it is still a memorable, catchy track. Ending the album is ballad

‘Inertia’, meaning ‘to remain unchanged’, tells the tale of coming back to the same thing each

time, no matter how far he goes ‘Inertia,you are still my home’.

You can catch Boston Manor on their short UK run in December in which they are

performing at the likes of Blackpool, Bournemouth or Leicester and at 2023’s Slam Dunk

Festival.