SuppliedPurity Ring
another eternity
Last Gang Records
purityringthing.com
Edmonton’s future-pop darlings Corin Roddick and Megan James are back with another eternity, their sophomore follow up to 2012’s Shrines. While another eternity demonstrates the group’s willingness to experiment and excellent lyricism, the record falls a little flat in comparison to Purity Ring’s previous record.
In the process of creating another eternity, the duo essentially have had a complete musical makeover from Shrines. Gone are their trademark blueprint, the ghostly pitched-down vocals, as well as the darkness that accompanied them. Roddick has instead elected for a bolder, brighter pop mosaic, giving way to his modern hip-hop and rap influences. Although many of the songs feel festival main stage-ready, the unique charm in which Purity Ring initially delivered their sound with has been slightly jeopardized.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr5mtKSbd7M
On the lyrical side of this division of labour, James helps Purity Ring reach levels of intimacy that were previously unexplored by the duo. James cleverly goes above and beyond in her writing to push intimacy deeper, reaching a juxtaposition of emotion and physiology. She revisits the need to be climbed inside on “Repetition,” but also reminds her partner and her listener “Watching me is like watching a fire take your eyes from you.” Evidentially James gives Taylor Swift a run for her money, as she will literally burn you.
Any time an artist switches up their style it’s stressful for both artist and fans, but the bold change, and growth Purity Ring experienced shouldn’t be seen as a sophomore slump. another eternity is modern, but the only big problem is that it isn’t ahead of its time, like Shrines proved to be. It’s not too often that twice a decade, a duo can set the pace for the next few years in pop.
