Puzzle - Patterns We Left (EP Review)

Puzzle have been with us for a fair few years now, gigging around the UK and releasing various low-key EP's and so on. But, what seems like a life-time since their last release, the Liverpool based trio are back with 'Patterns We Left', a beautiful three track EP. Puzzle have always had a knack of penning uplifting indie pop songs, (see debut album 'Sometimes, All The Time' for 25 minutes of the stuff) but on this record the band have really tightened the screws in terms of playing, song-writing and production. Opening with 'I Started Laughing', its clear to see how the band have progressed with its bouncy indie-rock stylings and is that a bit of distortion we hear in the verses? Rock! 'How Long Has It Been' has that similar nostaglic tone that is to that of some of the bands previous material, matched with the simple guitar melodies of guitarist 'Dave' that really shine throughout this record. But for me its all about the EP closer 'Same Old Problems', which is a sublime piece of pop with more fantastically simple guitar work; which particually sounds huge in the chorus coupled with the passionate vocals of front-woman 'Lucy', with lyrics that really seem to stick with you. So, it seems that Puzzle have made a lo-fi indie pop gem; melodic, passionate and most definitely the start of bigger and better things.

Rating: 8.5/10

Download: All of it! Its only three songs long!

Patterns We Left is being released as a 3” miniCD through the Lightningheart Records online shop, limited to 100 copies with the first 30 copies having a holographic front cover. It is also being released digitally in October 2009 via iTunes, Amazon mp3, eMusic, 7Digital, and Spotify. (It’s actually already on Amazon – here’s a link)

For more information, please contact Stef @ Lightningheart Records via e-mail at colourofstef@gmail.com, or check out www.lightningheartrecords.com, and or course www.myspace.com/puzzlepuzzle.