The Boy With The Thorn In His Side

These New Puritans are definitely not for everyone. It that wasn’t made abundantly clear on their debut record, 2008’s Beat Pyramid, then the just released follow-up Hidden should. Of course this is not meant to be perceived as a slight against the band’s sound one bit. There are definite pop moments to be found with TNPS. It’s simply a case where one has to dig deeper to find them because the hooks will not immediately jump out at you. Theirs is a sound where everything has to be taken in at once then appreciated for its breadth and complexity. In other words, this is the thinking man or woman’s pop music. Steve Reich for those in a rush.

I present to you an album track called Orion. This one was definitely made to be played at maximum volume. Big drums. Choral chants and a special guest appearance by singer Jack Barnett amidst the madness. It must be said that, to me, the main difference between Beat Pyramid and Hidden is the influence that informed each record. Where the debut seemed steeped in punk and hip-hop references, Hidden is the sound of a band that decided they were stop the world and get off onto a whole other conceptual tangent altogether. The new Futurist sound? Maybe.

“Orion” by These New Puritans, taken form the Domino release, “Hidden”