THESE NEW PURITANS, DAT’R, MEHO PLAZA
(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside)

Alienation and paranoia run rife through the back alleys of the minds of These New Puritans, a half-electro, all-edges group from the UK. You might even call them punk’s answer to grime. It’s a futuristic deconstructionism, covered in dirt, dust, razor wire, and broken glass, to be left forever all alone. Emphasizing rhythm over melody, singer Jack Barnett chants cryptic apocalyptics that may or may not hold savage encoded secrets. Where does one thing end and another begin? Occasionally the band leaps into the clouds, sustaining a note or a melody, and when they do, the contrast is beautiful. The group’s live show reportedly matches the sound, and Barnett is supposedly confrontational and wild. And if being tossed into this disparate fury sounds frightening, it should—but remember: Catharsis is necessary. ART

Now here’s a little bonus for y’all: a behind the scenes look at editing. Here’s how I really finished the peice:

“And if being tossed into this disparate fury sounds frightening, it should. But remember: Catharsis is necessary. And goddamn—if you think you don’t need any, well… you’re sicker than we thought. “

Yup.

Listen to These New Puritans: Numerology