Purity Ring are, in many ways, a very modern phenomenon. Theirs is a tale of internet singles buzz, breakthrough debut and ensuing collaborations. Their handy catch all for their music, ‘future pop’, only added another layer of tongue-in-cheek self-awareness to the process. But album two is tough, whether you’re the smartest kids in the room or not.
For a while, it seemed that the Edmonton duo’s sound would be defined by what other people might do with it. A couple of years ago we had a slice of wish-fulfillment as they paired up with Danny Brown for the ‘Old’ cut 25 Bucks, while their combination of sparse electronics, filling-shaking synths and dashes of slick pop has infiltrated the writing process of everyone from Lorde to Chvrches.
‘another eternity’ finds Megan James and Corin Roddick deliberating for a moment before taking the fork in the road signposted ‘More Of The Same’. Before you raise your hackles, that’s no bad thing.
James, for example, still can’t find it within herself to write a sub-par hook, while Roddick streamlines things and delves deeper into the construction of each song. They’re pop confections on the surface, but feel like they could be be dismantled into a thousand pieces.
James’ lyrics remain cloaked in black. Tears are a constant motif, but there’s also a new edge of resolve, a quiet power dotted throughout. “Watching me is like watching the fire take your eyes from you,” runs the chorus of repetition, while Roddick’s work is similarly bold. The crisp beats and injections of sub-bass build to portentous highs on stranger than earth or begin again and skirt delicate melodies on bodyache.
But, it has to be said that ‘another eternity’ lacks the element of surprise that its predecessor possessed and there are times when James and Roddick are playing within themselves. dust hymn and flood on the floor, a duo at the album’s tail end, for example, are constrained by outside influences - club-ready EDM on one hand and pristine R&B on the other - in a way that Purity Ring’s best work isn’t.
That they embarked on a truly collaborative writing process for the first time and ended up in the same ballpark is indicative of what works for them, and there are moments of real power here to back that up. ‘another eternity’ might be uneven, but it’s also thrilling when it wants to be.
Purity Ring Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Sun April 26 2015 - BRIGHTON Brighton Concorde 2
Mon April 27 2015 - BIRMINGHAM Library, Institute
Wed April 29 2015 - LEEDS Brudenell Social Club
Thu April 30 2015 - LONDON O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
Sun May 03 2015 - BRISTOL Anson Rooms
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