Shield Patterns

Shield Patterns

Shield Patterns are a Manchester group formed by Claire Brentnall and Richard Knox in 2012. The project begins with Brentnall working alone on home-recorded demos before a chance meeting with Knox at her first solo performance leads to the pair starting to work together and, within a few months, performing live and developing new material for a debut album.

Sound and style

Their music combines minimalism, fragility and warmth, with an approach built on carefully layered vocals, beats and other sounds. The songs are described as melodic but detailed, with features that reveal themselves over repeated listens. By 2014 the duo are presenting a darker and richer sound, shaped while recording in the North Wales countryside.

Releases and collaborations

Their first single, The Rule, appears on Gizeh and attracts attention for its contrast of restraint and emotional weight. It is backed by remixes from Thom alt-J and Thinnen. A later single, Dust Hung Heavy, follows ahead of the debut album. Knox also runs the Gizeh label, which releases The Rule.

Activity

Shield Patterns remain active from 2012 onward and also undertake a UK tour in 2014 around the time of their early releases.