In this feature we ask mainstays of the indie establishment who they think will be the next big act to break. 

This time we speak with experimental art rock duo These New Puritans.

These Domino signees have always been a hard one to pin down - a quality no doubt attributable to their seemingly boundless curiosity. They investigated the realms of fidgety post punk on their rollicking 2008 debut Beat Pyramid (released when they were only teenagers); they developed a thundering “dancehall meets Steve Reich” odyssey on their 2010 concept album Hidden; they meticulously laboured over haunting orchestral arrangements during the creation of their critically-lauded third LP, Field of Reeds; and they even expanded the band to an incredible 35-piece line-up on their live album at the Barbican in 2014. To be sure, we’ve discovered and rediscovered this shape-shifting outfit a number of times, but they’ve always (and only) sounded like themselves.

Now solely comprised of twin brothers Jack and George Barnett, 2019 has seen These New Puritans release their fourth studio record cryptically entitled, Inside The Rose, recorded in Berlin, London and their hometown of Southend-on-Sea. As might be expected, the new record reveals yet another peculiar incarnation of this beguiling project, and it could be their most compelling statement to date.

Speaking of Inside The Rose frontman Jack has noted it’s “much more primitive” than previous works, going on to assert he and his brother “want to make [their] music as direct and as powerful as possible - straight to the nervous system.” George too affirms that the scrupulous pair “wanted this to be about [them] working together on something really pure and progressive.” And progressive it most certainly is, seamlessly blending the worlds of opera and electronica, ambience and post-punk in an elegant yet unsettling suite of songs that deftly explore themes of “beauty, transcendence, desire, oblivion, ecstasy and eyes.”

It’s been over a decade since this Southend outfit roared onto the scene in the late noughties, and they’ve been cultivating an impressive yet fiercely loyal fanbase ever since. With the recent release of Inside The Rose, we thought it a suitable time to catch up with the brothers Barnett and find out which emerging artists they’re most excited about right now.

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SCINTII


(Photo: Shuwei Liu)

She has a unique voice. There aren’t too many singers emerging at the moment, at least that I know of, but she bucks that trend. Some of her melodies are almost medieval. It sounds ancient and modern at the same time. Have a listen to ‘Aerial / Paper Bags’.



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TOXE


(Photo: Nadine Fraczkowski)

A great producer. She has interesting textures, but it’s also melodically interesting. There’s a lot of textural music around, very abstract, but I like how Toxe’s music goes straight to your nervous system. It has a kind of cartoon / anime quality in places. I love her collaboration with Mechatok, called ‘Still Life’.



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PAN DAIJING


(Photo: Nadine Fraczkowski)

She’s a fantastic performer, catch her ‘Fist Piece’ live if you get the chance. There is a playfulness to it - she makes serious music but doesn’t take herself too seriously - so it doesn’t have the pomposity that can come with more self-consciously ‘experimental’ music.



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Inside The Rose is out now via Domino Records.

(These New Puritans Photo: Harley Weir)

-Karl Jawara