Slag

Slag are playing Patterns on Friday 11 December. They're Brighton locals, and their sound sits somewhere between indie-pop, math-rock and post-punk, with the mathy side of things coming through in the odd time signatures and tight, interlocking parts. It's a five-piece: frontwoman Amelie on vocals and guitar, Dan on guitar, Seb on keys, Luke on drums and Freya on bass.

Amelie is the one who gave the band its name, and she does so with a mix of apology and distaste — the word is written on the back of her guitar. The live show is described as playful and completely assured, with precision and personality sitting comfortably side by side. It's that combination that works best: the tight, locked-in playing of a math-rock band, but with a sense of fun that keeps it from feeling too clinical.

They've put out two singles so far, Heaven and Ripped, and the two show the different directions they can pull. Heaven is a jangly, Sparks-meets-indie number, while Ripped is funkier and grungier. Hearing them live gives you a better sense of how those two moods fit together, with the indie-pop melodies and the post-punk grit playing off each other.

If you've caught them before, you'll know the set is built around that same mix of precision and playfulness. If not, this is a good place to start: a local band playing one of the city's best rooms. Slag at Patterns, Friday 11 December.