REVIEW: ‘Keep Calm & Carry On’, the latest single from the Sheffield three piece band Patchwork Dots
Hailing from South Yorkshire, paTChwOrk dOts are an indie collective formed in 2019 by frontman and guitarist Paul Jones. The band offer themselves as an open collaboration, shuffling through local musicians from track to track, they’ve even welcomed two members of Sheffield Orchestra in a previous single. This approach is open, lending itself to fun tunes and free reigns of creativity.
As the band themselves state: ‘paTChwOrk dOts started as an idea; a dream to write original music without boundaries, without influence; with a collective of musicians; an excuse to keep creative and create something unique’.
‘Keep Calm & Carry On’ was my suitably snappy introduction to the band. Opening with an immediate cartoonish whirring siren and catchy riff, the single is a punch of simple, sonic fun. It seems the two-minute track would sit gleefully, somewhere between ‘The Inbetweeners’ soundtrack and a late-night DJs indie set.
Jone’s lyrics don’t run parallel to the songs light-hearted riff, as he questions “hiding behind a porcelain smile” and honestly admits “I’m tired of disguising myself”. Anxiety and authenticity seem to be a theme in the collectives’ work, with their previous effort ‘Talk it through’ dealing candidly with mental health. Perhaps it’s their upcoming album title Whichever filter makes you feel okay (set to release in the spring) which captures the feeling of those songs so succinctly. Jones is clearly touched by social media and the metaverse of imitated happiness in which it shrouds us. He writes his songs through a blue light lens and opens mental health discussion through his own musings. ‘Keep Calm & Carry On’ is no exception.
Despite Jone’s thoughtful songwriting, the overbearing nature of this single is fun. In one clip, Paul shruggingly admits he made his own guitar. The band self-release their work. They sit comfortably on the Sheffield pub circuit. Above all, patchwork dots release their music for the sheer enjoyment of it. It’s that sincere sense of fun which seals their music off with a smile. You can’t help but feel endeared by them.
‘Keep Calm & Carry On’ is set for release on 10th February and is the last Single before the release of their second album ‘Whichever Filter Makes You Feel OK’ , due out in the spring time.
Words: Josie Reaney
