The Pattern Theory: "Ideas of Fun"

Leeds. Not the first place in the UK you’d think of as being the heart of forward-thinking post-rock, but the first to produce a band like the Pattern Theory and their tingling, kinetic guitar sequences. Having obviously spent too many weeknights watching Pi—specifically the mathematician’s brainwave-in-the-coffee-shop scene—the conceptual trio have done a lot of thinking, possibly brought about by the explosion of their tour van while driving through former East Germany. Their music is precise, designed around formulae, but surprisingly intricate when enjoyed through headphones. It’s also, believe it or not, far from dull: for a band still waving the post-rock tag this is as spicy a sound as you’ll get, a blend of jazz and the clever bits from the A Silver Mt. Zion albums.

It’s the jazz element that the Pattern Theory toy with on their debut, and “Ideas of Fun” sees them handle it cooly, making music for the ’60s cocktail bar at the end of the world. Aside from Lukas Creswell-Rost’s electronic bass, Pattern Theory will be best remembered for fusing chiming guitars and funk, the result sounding like Explosions in the Sky being nudged with a cattle-prod. Soon as crazy as the Will Self novel of its title, “Ideas of Fun” rattles, skips, and pings, a lot less po-faced than the majority of post-rock which typically runs quiet-quiet-LOUD-quiet, repeat. James Yaters’ athletic drumming tightens the five-minute run time, but strangely never punctures the slow central riff which stops “Fun” from going hyperactive. Relaxation: probably the way to deal with your Transit exploding. Unless you’ve got access to a fire extinguisher.