Bloom must be the only band ever to mention New York and Neepsend in the same breath. They reside in the suburb of Sheffield, with all the city’s musical pedigree for influence. But their Anglo-American wordplay is apposite.
Bloom are undeniably indebted to The Strokes and post-punk revivalism more generally. Aiden Revill’s drumming is especially similar to the metronomic style of that era.
But there is an equal dose of Gallagher drawl via vocalist Henry Graham, who tears at his cords with an oddly apathetic integrity. Yet unsurprisingly it’s the lyrics that ensure ‘England Will Do’ never strays too far artistically across the pond.
BLOOM’s approval of England is reluctant, however, lamenting the ‘worthless king’ and the ‘Tony Blairs’ – a far cry from Oasis’s famous approval of the new labour figurehead during a Brit Award acceptance speech.
Instead, they’re blunt. ‘Breaking news, the Tories lose’ they cry, and t’s clear BLOOM are more than happy to lampoon jingoism.
More pertinent perhaps is their paradoxical empathy towards their microcosmic part of England. They reminisce of ‘bars we loved going to’ and, less literally, ‘those drives up heartbreak avenue.’
The song does sonically resemble its influences a little too overtly. ‘England Will Do’ is not a musical facsimile but the similarities are stark all the same.
But does that matter? After all, BLOOM are clearly smart thinkers with a creative impetus behind their lyrics. They already have a turn of phrase sharper than most. The more singles we get, the more BLOOM are likely to mould this style to something their own. Were they to do so, the results could be great.
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