Music reviews
These New Puritans, Freebutt, Brighton, April 29
 |
| Dean Chalkley |
These New Puritans have attracted vitriolic criticism from various quarters for their high concept, high pretence blend of post-punk, thumping dancehall-
type rhythms and
cryptic wordplay.
Jack Barnett
is a popular target too: snotty, distracted and,
at this gig, sporting
a preposterous smock
of metal feathers that left him resembling one of Brian Blessed's angels in Flash Gordon, only with a bad bowl cut.
But whether swaying queasily, or screwing his words skywards with spiralling hand gestures, he's a captivating lead, and with dubwise echo liberally applied to his paranoid psycho-babble, the overall effect is pleasingly disorientating - like hurtling down some hellish urban tunnel, vicious buzz words and slogans strobing repeatedly before you.
The band are
a little easier
to digest live than they are
on record, the sharp edges and over-processed feel
of tracks such as Numbers and Colours shorn to reveal a tight, intuitive unit beneath the studio trickery.
But whilst the set is slick and functional there's the sense that TNP are too restlessly creative to give this album the committed touring it deserves. They looked far more content amongst their pounding, trippy jams than trotting out the indie hits.
Probably not great for popularity or sales, but pointing assuredly towards a bright future for a most singular and innovative outfit nonetheless.
10:41am Friday 2nd May 2008
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