These New Puritans: Beat Pyramid
Friday, 25 Jan 2008 16:48
Southend youngsters release their quite-good debut.
Domino, out January 28th.
In a nutshell…
New and original (just like those old bands)
What's it all about?
The first full-length release from the much-hyped Brits was recorded with Gareth Jones, whose production credits include Liars and Wire. Angular, dissonant, abrasive - pick your stock description and hang on to it, because if the band's press release is to be believed these tracks also reference Greek pottery and 16th century occultist John Dee. Lyrics span numerology, Michael Barrymore, Milton Keynes and terrorism, all delivered in a brattish, overpowering bark by the boy vocalist. Following up their EP Pluvial - recorded over 24 hours in a shed - the four-piece are being hailed by the ever-eager press as an alternative to cookie-cutter retro, which may or may not be anything to do with the verbose namedropping of singer Jack Barnett that means 'next big thing' profiles pretty much write themselves.
Who's it by
A pair of twins called Jack and George Barnett, a lady called Sophie Sleigh-Johnson and a man called Thomas Hein. Voice, drums, bass, sampler, synths. Things you need to know: (i) Last year, drummer George wrote a 15-minute soundtrack to fashion designer Hedi Slimane's Autumn collection for Dior Homme; (ii) The band wear black and gold onstage, just black and gold man; (iii) They are all 19. Onstage they are meant to be tight, fierce and performative, icy and taut.
As an example…
"What's your favourite number?/What does it mean?/Number one: the individual/Number two: duality/Number 3: …numerology is all s**t." - Numerology
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
A Mercury, maybe.
What the others say
"They've joined the expanding British indie club of releasing exciting singles, then a passable but neutered album." - Plan B magazine
"Most likely to: Be described as nu trance. Least likely to: Cause audience members to go into a trance." - Guardian
So is it any good?
Its easy to call bulls**t when bands claim influences that span the distance between Sonic Youth and Greek pottery, but at its best this album does resonate with surprising reference points - its trashy danceable side recalls MIA and Barnett's voice sounds like arch-ironist Eddie Argos of Art Brut as well as the usual suspects Gang of Four, the Fall and Wire. It doesn't go far enough to warrant its claims to experimentation. Songs start obliquely, excitingly and at the beginning everything is open but the tracks fail to condense into any sort of passionate core, they meander and wane and cop out. The numerology lyrics quoted above that collapse into a disclaimer are what's wrong with the whole album - it chooses deconstruction over conviction, distance over commitment and in the process descends into something slightly repetitious and boring, that's hard to care about at all.
6 /10
Sophie Jones
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