Album Review: Purity Ring - Another Eternity

Megan James and Corin Roddick collaborating as Purity Ring yielded an almost perfect debut in the shape of Shrines back in 2012.

Their latest album moves on from Shrines in an altogether more accessible direction. James’ vocals are less heavily processed and sitting louder in the mix: sure to invite singalongs at gigs. Purity Ring seemingly take a step closer to attracting the attention of bigger and perhaps more mainstream audiences.

Let’s not be surprised by this development, they did after all remix Lady Gaga’s Applause. Unlike Shrines, the tunes on this album ascend higher peaks offering grander vistas before crashing into the next song. Bodyache is sure to draw inevitable comparison to Sia. Meanwhile the drop on Flood On The Floor suggests EDM ambitions and washes over like a David Guetta collaboration. In full flight Sea Castle evokes La Roux.

Without wanting to alienate their fans, Purity Ring take these steps towards accessibility on their own terms. Their pristine electronic pop still reflects the influence of trap, witch-house, electro and indie-pop. It’s a tasteful collision of styles that fluidly slips and slides between their influences, ultimately arriving at a highly original sound that could only bear their signature. The duo continues to maintain a mysterious and enigmatic presence. Waves and waves of luscious synthesised sound create a nocturnal wonderland best visited in dreams where James’ cryptic lyrics feel like clues to navigating this album. Purity Ring have delivered another album of spellbinding pop perfection.