Purity Ring - Another Eternity (NPR Music First Listen)
Purity Ring have fused mainstream pop production with their signature atmospheric alt-electronic music on their latest release, Another Eternity. Whether it be vocalist Megan James’ compelling voice, the streamlined, drawn-out synths, or just background melody, each track on this new album leaves the listener fulfilled no matter which part of the song he or she focuses on.
The new record is brighter and more optimistic in places, too. Where the focus on their previous 2012 release was on dense, atmospheric soundscapes, Another Eternity brings a pop sensibility to the surface.
“Begin Again” is a great example of Purity Ring’s top 10 production approach to electronic music. There are real hooks in this track, and the clean synth sounds quiet down in some parts to shine the spotlight on Megan James’ highly sweet vocals.
Although this new release with nearly a dozen new songs includes music that sounds more pop-friendly and immediate to the listener, I have to say the basic electronic texture on Another Eternity remains nearly identical to Shrines. This may be a good thing, however, because Purity Ring was a unique group to start with—the music on their original album explored dark and alien avenues, and there’s nothing wrong with refining that golden spot.
Almost every album has its own set of flaws though, and this one is also the case. It is interesting to note how the drum machines and key of the songs sound very dated, almost like they recorded it around the time they released Shrines. Additionally, some of the tracks on this new record, like “Flood on the Floor” reach borderline bad taste.
Whether Purity Ring’s polished, mainstream electronic-pop music sticks, it will be interesting to see where they head next in their sound. The unique lyrics and musical texture that was a staple to their original album remain on Another Eternity, and although it would be nice to see more experimentation with the songs, the music we’ve got is satisfying enough to make me want to keep my ears attentive to the sounds.