The Splatter Pattern are a duo from Kansas City making their full-length studio debut with While We Were Making Plans. Recorded during the pandemic, the title reflects the uncertainty and unpredictability of the period, while the music itself deftly captures this sense of a world turned upside down. With a sound heavily influenced by the titans of the 1970s, the duo combines the high concept prog of Pink Floyd and Genesis with the art rock sensibility of David Bowie and Talking Heads. The band also tackles big, heavy issues on each song, ranging from individual grief on “The Corner of My Eye” to a large-scale modern existential crisis on the aptly titled “Higgs Boson.”
This is clearly a work made by two people who dearly cherish music, and wearing their influences proudly, lovingly pay tributes to their heroes. This topic itself is addressed on “Giant” an angular, subtly psychedelic ode to the lost giants of the 60s and 70s. It truly is an impressive record for something 100% self-recorded and self-produced by the duo, Bill Ryan and Dave Storms. They give plenty of time to show off the wide variety of styles they’re adept at, often within the same song, like “Siblings” which manages to combine both hard rock and jazz fusion brilliantly. Regardless of what your favorite 70s band is, there is something in While We Were Making Plans for everyone, but The Splatter Pattern emerges with a fully formed, compelling artistic voice that is all their own.
