That should read ‘Laundry Pods’, surely? No, it is not a typo. It’s just that Super Pattern, a trio based between London and Edinburgh, have a way of twisting the familiar into something off-kilter, as evidenced by their debut single.
For want of a more apt label, it’s tempting to describe the band’s sound as power pop, but who’s commonly associated with that genre? The likes of Cheap Trick, Big Star and The Cars. Maybe Teenage Fanclub, or The Beths, if you’re looking for something really contemporary. And though “Laundry Pops” does have something in common with all these bands’ output – it’s melodic, catchy and full of energy – the similarities pretty much end there.
For starters, the song isn’t driven by guitars; synths take centre stage instead. Plus an organ that kicks off proceedings and sticks around, hovering in the background, waiting for another opportunity to shine. Or rather, to shimmer. And that organ, ladies and gentlemen, is floating in space. Come to think of it, so are the three musicians, Tom Carrell (vocals, keyboards), Richard Manbier (drums) and James Swatton (bass). Think Animal Collective orbiting around Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd, with Stereolab and Can having tagged along for the ride to provide some ballast in the form of retro-futuristic vibes and trance-like grooves.
As for the lyrics, they match the music perfectly. Half-sung, half-spoken lines are followed by seemingly random words – milkman, lampshade, shameless, object – that each tumble out like an afterthought, an appendix of sorts, but rather than helping you make sense of what’s going on, they baffle you instead. It’s as if you’re wandering through a surreal dream sequence in an Alejandro Jodorowsky film.
Call it weird if you like, but here’s the thing. Given a couple of listens, the song will grow on you. “Everything changes all the time”, Carrell sings in a falsetto voice near the end; a relatable observation in itself, and when the backing harmonies chime in, you can feel the quirky warmth the song radiates. And if you fancy drifting further into Super Pattern’s singular universe, their full debut album is already out there.
Super Pattern: Bandcamp | Instagram | YouTube
Review by Attila Peter
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