Description:	CD on Angular
	Format:	CD
	Genre(s):	Indie Rock
	Label:	Angular
	Price:	£10.09
	Availability:	Dispatched within 2-5 days (on average).

5
...according to our Brian on 14 January 2010.

That beguiling bunch These New Puritans are back with a new Graham Sutton produced opus that is already dividing the office, always a good sign! After the decidedly schizophrenic 'We Want War', i'm left unsure what to expect. The stark rhythmic attack & relentless barked mantras of their debut seems to have evolved into something a little more elegant & considered on 'Hidden', involving lots of hypnotic, deep percussion and dense, claustrophobic electronics. The singer guy Jack Barnett still sounds like he's singing in Swell Maps or Television Personalities half the time which lends this sleek, weird future pop of theirs a rather endearing, homely edge. There's plenty o' quirkiness & left-field classical flourishes paddling amongst the sparse post-grime/dancehall inspired beats, these jarring (but hugely compulsive) swaying rhythms topped with some curious segments of vocal manipulation that has me considering them the only true UK answer to NY's fine tripped out mentalists Gang Gang Dance. So...still challenging, still sticking proudly to a minimalist agenda that blows the majority of hoary UK rock and drab indie right out of the water. Ex-Bark Psychosis don Sutton has done a mighty job on the production here, crisp, edgy & massively atmospheric, all the hallmarks that made their debut great are present & correct, they've just shifted it all a bit sideways. Thoroughly excellent!

Love this record? Hate it? Tell us.

Sound clips for Hidden by These New Puritans: on CD at Norman Records UK. CD, Angular, Arc065cd, £10.09.

What their label says...

‘Hidden’ is the highly anticipated comeback from a band whose debut ‘Beat
Pyramid’ earned them huge critical acclaim, including the cover of Observer Music
Monthly, rave reviews in NME, Q, Mojo, Uncut, The Guardian and widespread
radio support from Zane Lowe, Rob Da Bank, Steve Lamacq and Marc Riley, as
well as gaining them a strong cult following.

‗Hidden‘ is an epic return, featuring six foot Japanese taiko drums, a thirteen piece
brass and woodwind ensemble and Foley sound effect recording techniques.
Produced by These New Puritan’s Jack Barnett along with Graham Sutton, and
mixed by Dave Cooley (J Dilla, MF Doom), the single is as strange as it is
confrontational. It draws equally on the rhythmic lexicons of dancehall, 20th Century
post-minimalism, and the plastic textures of modern US Pop.

The extraordinary and original seven minute film to accompany the single ‘We Want
War’ is by acclaimed Australian director Daniel Askill and is truly mesmerising. This
underwater odyssey is already causing a stir on the internet, it looks set to be an
MTV favourite for 2010.

The album‘s heavy layers of rhythm combined with the classical minimalist
instrumentation will challenge, perplex and mesmerise the listener and more than
reward any attention lavished upon it. Sometimes brutal, sometimes
melancholy, and sounding like nothing else.

Available on digital download, CD, limited edition LP (500 copies) and
exclusively to independent retailers, a limited edition CD plus 80 page
luxury hardback score book containing the musical notation scores for the
album (300 copies).