In 2008, it appeared as if These New Puritans was hopelessly late to the Wire, XTC and Gang of Four love that peaked earlier in the decade, which tended to obscure some of the album’s more adventurous and promising moments. On Hidden, the band’s sophomore release, TNP has done away with nostalgia altogether in favour of a startling and completely alluring future.
Dropping the herky-jerky rhythms and angular guitar riffs in favour of oboes, bassoons, concussive programmed beats, chopped horns, icy electronics and, perhaps most awesomely, the sound of knives being sharpened, TNP has completely divorced itself from its previously too-easy-to-name influences to express jaw-dropping individuality. Grime beats mesh with classical wind sections and those knives; multiple choirs fight for prominence; drum machines, traditional kits and tympani intertwine to march listeners off to war with electronic blurts as their ammunition; haphazard pianos and bells plunk out affecting melodies despite their chaotic arrangements.
Hidden is a brazenly ambitious album and an astronomical leap forward from its predecessor, but most importantly it’s an overwhelming, incredible success.
Post the first comment: (Login or Register)