What is striking from the outset is that there is no obvious musical thread connecting the four new songs to the original album. The more tenuous connection seems to be thematic, with each song offering some observation on the trappings of fame. If anything, these songs are like much of her recent output: safer, more comfortable and less tortured than Swift at her most interesting. 

Of the four, however, ‘Patient Zero’ is the most Swift-esque, feeling like a loose continuation of the mindset of ‘The Tortured Poets Department’. The Max Martin and Shellback-produced electronic textures are present in the percussion and tempo, but the synthesised violin sound gives it the ambience of the earlier album.

The key difference is that where tracks from ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ often sounded emotionally exhausted, ‘Patient Zero’ bears some of the lighter hallmarks of the ‘Showgirl’ era. Yet the sound is more haunting, while the cool staccato vocal delivery emphasises the barbed lyrics and, arguably, makes them sting more.

Lyrically, the song finds Swift wandering through familiar territory. The song finds our patient zero supporting her ex’s latest victim, offering sisterly support that comes from someone who has survived the same relationship - although there is also a mild hint of I told you so. When Swift sings, “If you’re sick of him, I’ve got you / I was patient zero”, it is difficult not to read between the lines and wonder if she had Sophie Turner in her thoughts.

Vocally, Swift breezes through the song with confidence. Her voice sounds self-assured as she switches between punchy, bitter retorts and breathy reassurance while some of the lyrics give nods to earlier work. “I know he charmed your family and friends” feels like an echo of the talk-show moment in ‘All Too Well (10 Minute Version)’.  

The biggest misstep comes in the spoken-word section, which feels unnecessarily pastiche. After the restraint, the theatricality feels a bit stark.

Taylor continues to heavily market the ‘Showgirl’ era, yet it feels like she has slightly lost her way. Nobody should begrudge Swift her happiness, and there is nothing wrong with a newlywed seeing the world through slightly rosier-tinted glasses. But ‘Patient Zero’ offers a tantalising glimpse that beneath the shimmering sequins and the cleverly packaged releases, those sharper observations are still there, which makes their recent absence more noticeable.

Perhaps, before long, that Taylor Swift may once again come to the phone.

Andrew Butcher

@framingtheechoes / @arrondor

Image: 'Patient Zero' Official Single Cover