Single Review: Blossoms and The Courteeners – PleaseDon’t (In Isolation)

Article originally written for Only A Northern One.

Whilst many of us have taken to baking banana bread, redecorating and binge-

watching quite literally everything on Netflix, Blossoms have used their time in

isolation to record covers. Their latest track transports you straight to summer with its

chill vibes and calming tone. Blossoms called upon Liam Fray (lead singer of The

Courteeners) to accompany them with a cover of his 2008 track ‘Please Don’t’. 

The original ‘Please Don’t’ included rattling snare drums and staccato guitar strums,

but Blossoms have stripped the tune right back to its core. Together, Blossoms and

Fray have created a far more mature sound. 

The harmonies between Fray and Tom Ogden add a whole new layer to the song

that was sorely missed in the original. The stop-start invective in the lyrics is far less

jarring in this cover, most likely due to Ogden’s smoky tone. The drums do not

overpower the rest of the song as they did previously, in fact, right until the end of

the song, Joe Donovan drums on a cardboard box! 

The trickle of the piano, rhythmic guitar riffs, whisper-like singing, and steady

drumbeats all blend seamlessly together, marrying the best of Liam Fray and

Blossoms. And, although the melodic structure is somewhat monotonous, they have

created a very pleasant sound. 

‘Please Don’t (In Isolation)’ is not the most unique track around, but it is annoyingly

catchy, and I will most likely have it on repeat all summer.