Shield Patterns - Mirror Breathing

  by Dave Goodwin

published: 17 / 10 / 2016

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Here's a curious one. And I do like curious. Shield Patterns are the Manchester-based duo of Claire Brentnall and also Richard Knox of A-Sun Amisa, the Rustle of the Stars and Glissando. Together they create intensely emotive music but mostly they aren't afraid to experiment with things. Their first offering was the critically acclaimed debut LP 'Contour Lines' in 2014 and was followed by their EP 'Violet' in 2015, both of which have been released on Richard's own Gizeh label. They have had some of their work remixed by artists like alt-j and Dutch Uncles and have also been invited to play with post-metal titans Cult of Luna at their Beyond the Redshift festival in London. Shield Patterns have also appeared at Wave-Gotik-Treffen in Leipzig and have toured and played shows with the likes of James Holden, Portico, Olöf Arnalds, Woman's Hour, Bernard + Edith and Conquering Animal Sound. With Claire, they are blessed with having a lead singer with a heavenly voice that sits somewhere between Kate Bush and Channy Leaneagh fronting Policia. When you think of all the concepts created in bedrooms and garages, not all of them sound like this. In fact only a handful actually sound like you would put the CD back in the slot again after the first play. I, however, can't get 'Mirror Breathing' out of my mind never mind the CD player, and it's all because of Brentnall's haunting voice. Don't get me wrong here. It's not an album you are going to stick on before a night out on the town. This is an album that will appeal to the late night crew afterwards. 'Dusk' is the starter, and is a good example of what you are going to get next with its hypnotic electronica. 'Cerulean', the second offering, hammers its meaning into your head like a steam train while once again Brentnalls's voice keeps you on the platform safe and nearly sound. 'Anymore' sports piano from the start and there is a strange turn of genre on 'Balance & Scatter' which try as I might I can't quite put the style to paper. And that's a good thing. You can't really categorise any of this because it has a sound of its own. And then there is that voice...

Track Listing:-

1 Dusk
2 Cerulean
3 Sleepdrunk
4 On Needing
5 Blue Shutters
6 Bruises
7 This Temporary Place
8 Balance & Scatter
9 Anymore
10 Glow

Band Links:-

https://twitter.com/shieldpatterns
http://www.shieldpatterns.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ShieldPatterns

Label Links:-

http://www.gizehrecords.com/
https://www.facebook.com/gizehrecords
https://twitter.com/gizehrecords

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