These New Puritans - Crooked Wing

These New Puritans’ London studio is situated by both a giant industrial waste processing plant and several Evangelical churches, and this physical space finds itself manifested in sonic form on the Southend-born brothers’ fifth full-length and first of this decade: filthy and heavenly, decaying and resplendent. It enjoys titling between these dichotomies: ‘Bells’ is rapturous, making gorgeous use of the titular instruments, and ‘Industrial Love Song’ is heavenly, using its guest turn from Caroline Polachek to crisp, emotionally potent effect. And while the majority of the record takes in these bright, soulful moments, there are also standouts to be found among its darker turns. ‘A Season In Hell’ layers ominous church organs atop aggressive percussive layers, and ‘Wild Fields’ infuses harsh textures into an otherwise accessible synth-pop track that recalls mid-period Depeche Mode. An elegant, engrossing return, that marries its creators’ love of both industrial and ecclesiastical aesthetics while remaining accessible and emotionally easy to grasp. Welcome back.