Patterns - Blood

Though they’ve been quiet of late, Manchester’s Patterns have clearly been busy. Possessing the kind of precision melodies and vocal acrobatics that mark out a truly brilliant single, ‘Blood’ has a star quality about it that sees this band of shoegazers step out from the shadow of their influences and strike out skywards. A moody verse breaks into a huge chorus that has almost the same sweep and immediacy as something like Radiohead’s ‘Planet Telex’ - a rush of melody and texture that carries the listener helplessly along for the ride.

Though their sonic touchstones remain groups like Animal Collective and Engineers, this is nevertheless a welcome development of an already good band; already able to deliver live, it appears that they have finally got the hang of representing their leftfield pop on record too.