These New Puritans Announce First Studio Album In Six Years 'Crooked Wing'
Wednesday, 12 March 2025
Written by Jon Stickler
Photo: Holly Whitaker
These New Puritans have returned with details of their first album in six years.
Essex brothers Jack and George Barnett will release their long-awaited fifth LP, 'Crooked Wing', on May 23 via Domino Recording Company.
Produced by Jack with Bark Psychosis' Graham Sutton, with George serving as executive producer, the follow-up to 2019's 'Inside The Rose' also boasts contributions from guest musicians Caroline Polachek (pictured with Jack and George) and jazz double-bassist Chris Laurence. On the record's title, George said:
"This album is both more surreal and somehow more direct than anything we’ve ever done. A crooked wing is an ear, you have one on each side of your body, and they have a rippled shape. Maybe if you’re lucky they can help you fly."
Alongside the announcement, the art-rock duo have shared a double a-side single, Industrial Love Song featuring additional vocals from Polachek, and Bells, both of which offer an ambient, atmospheric aesthetic.
Jack commented: “Industrial Love Song is a duet between two cranes on a building site. Caroline sings the part of one crane, I sing the other; they can’t touch (their movements are controlled by the operator), but when the sun rises they hope that their shadows will cross. I like how the title George came up with misdirects expectations - it’s not that kind of industrial.
"As we exit the mechanical age, you realise how much we have in common with our machines, how human they are. Suddenly it didn’t feel so absurd to write a love song from their perspective."
George explained: "It’s hard to attach a time period to this song. It's progressive music made with instruments that have been around for hundreds of years."
Discussing Bells, Jack continued: "This song started with a field recording we made of a bell in a small Orthodox Greek church. You can hear it in the song, and the rest of the song grew out of it. That one bell strike set a lot of the album in motion."
Head below to view an accompanying video for Industrial Love Song, created by longtime friend and collaborator, photographer Harley Weir.
'Crooked Wing' tracklist:
1. Waiting
2. Bells
3. A Season in Hell
4. Industrial Love Song [featuring Caroline Polachek]
5. I’m Already Here
6. Wild Fields (I Don’t Want To)
7. The Old World
8. Crooked Wing
9. Goodnight
10. Return
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
