INDIE SOUNDSCAPES

[ By Fernando Rivera Rodríguez ]

TODAY: PURITY RING HOSTILE TRIBES

The Delightful Future Of Indie-Pop

"PURITY RING – STARDEW”

As we all know, the Music of the 2000s it´s more often defined as a variety of styles where we can find many different bands that incorporate big influences from well-known and iconic bands of past decades, but with their own identity. Within this we also find the classic Revivals of artists showing their love for Post-Punk, Dream-Pop, Shoegaze, Synth-Pop, Dark-Wave, Goth-Rock, Ambient and Experimental Music, etc. but always being original and bringing something fresh and new. Due to this there has also been a feedback phenomenon between present and past bands because the new artists, based on Music born in the 60s until the 90s, have allowed legendary groups may become known again. But, not only that, the Indie bands of yesterday are back in force and they have met again launching new albums with great success like MY BLOODY VALENTINE, SLOWDIVE, THE JESUS & MARY CHAIN, DEAD CAN DANCE, RIDE, LUSH, PIXIES, THE BREEDERS, BELLY, THE OCEAN BLUE, etc. On the other side of the same coin, some bands have also emerged with a distinctive style of this past two decades. They offer a totally brand new sound with few influences to show the next step in Music taking advantage of the new technologies at its maximum level. This is a sign of our times where artists are doing Avant-Garde Music nowadays...that´s exciting!!! One of these great bands is PURITY RING with awesome ideas in mind and every album and song they have released it´s a brilliant trip to discover creating a world on their own. It´s one of my favorite acts because they always propose very well-crafted and amazing tunes using innovating, detailed distorted and attractive sound effects that give sense and consistency to the Music. PURITY RING is a duo coming from Alberta, Canada conformed by the charming vocalist MEGAN JAMES and the multi-instrumentalist and producer CORIN RODDICK. Their first release was the single "Ungirthed" (2011) with favorable reviews caughting the attention of the acclaimed 4AD RECORDS label signing them. As the band´s name suggest, the Music is very pure, authentic and spontaneous without taking too much contact with familiar bands or "the

outside world". To be more precise they create songs with particular and unique feelings and their style can be described as Avant-Garde Electronica, Future-Pop or Indietronica with touches of Dream-Pop, Synth-Pop, Dark-Wave, Trip-Hop, EDM (Electronic Dance Music), etc.

With "WOMB" (2020 - 4AD RECORDS), their latest album released some months ago only, I can define their discography as an impressive trilogy. The debut album is the fantastic "Shrines" (2012 - 4AD RECORDS) which took by storm critics and fans because of the innovation and their provocative new style. This album is very Experimental, Dark and radical with an Indie-Pop vibe. I had a strong connection with the incredible third single "Fineshrine" and it was the song that let me know Purity Ring to start to appreciate their Music. Another great tunes from "Shrines" are "Crawlersout", "Amenamy, "Obedear", "Belispeak", "Lofticries", etc. But the whole album is a Musical journey. "Another Eternity" (2015 - 4AD RECORDS) is the second outstanding release of PURITY RING where we can feel the evolution of the band with a new point of view including beautiful songs like "Heartsigh","Push Pull, "Sea Castle" and "Stillness In Woe". This time they took a turn

to enter a more Pop and accessible terrain without leaving aside its essence and its roots...the best songs here are "Bodyache" and "Begin Again".

Finally, after five years, appeared the third album titled "WOMB" (2020 - 4AD RECORDS) with great expectations. We can explore another surreal and charming universe of soundscapes and melodies with more surprises and, like all their records, require many listens to begin to love them. The evolution continues resuming the melodies of "Another Eternity" to create wonderful Indie-Pop songs mixed with the experimentation of "Shrines" but giving a new twist again in a more ethereal way. Highlights are the stunning "Stardew", "I Like The Devil", "Pink Lightning", "Vehemence", "Femia", "Silkspun", etc. The song that seduced me, after a few listens, is the majestic "Stardew", the best song and the first single from "WOMB" (2020 - 4AD RECORDS), their new album. PURITY RING has made a true contemporary masterpiece that shows their non-stop vision to create worlds of fantasy and dreams. Without no doubt, is one of the better songs in their impeccable career to keep it in mind as one of the most important songs of this decade that is just beginning. The intro of "Stardew" is very hypnotic, Dreamy and Ambient at the same time by the inclusion of xylophone sounds that create a relaxing and mystical aura like a lullaby. Then the song changes into a powerful and cheerful atmosphere with the exceptional and "childish" voice of MEGAN JAMES fused with an impressive touch of Dark-Wave. At the middle of the song we find again the lullaby atmosphere and finish as

it began...absolutely spectacular!!! Mention apart is the amazing video made especially for the single "Stardew", very rare and beautiful and one of the best and most surreal videos I have seen in my entire life. It´s the most modern technology in 3D computer graphics and also stop-motion animation using dolls and puppets...simply exceptional!!! Let yourselves be taken by the stunning melodies and sounds of this gem entitled "Stardew" composed by PURITY RING and have a great time watching this haunting and triumphant video. Best wishes to all my friends and all the people who love the remarkable world of Indie Music...thanks so much and STAY SAFE!!!...

Remarkable Melodies

Synth-Pop and Dream-Pop from Manchester, UK

HOSTILE TRIBES: "Passive Acceptance"

There are bands or artists that has a lot of creativity, imagination and fresh ideas to capture those brilliant moments composing and thinking about the process of making Music all the time. They never stand still and wanna turn their efforts materializing them into accords, riffs, piano notes and everything that can cause a motivation or an impression for themselves first and then to an audience.

Then, at first glance, they start to find the best elements to create demos or previews that will be transformated into a song satisfying their needs. Finally those finished and polished themes can be part of the release of an EP or LP...this development is really surprising! Generally, within this process, many artists have a single project which grows album after album offering a new vision and in turn they create their own style with a particular name that can identify them. On the other hand, there are Musicians who start their careers in an unusual way, creating different projects and changing their names according to circumstances and styles, but always maintaining their essence and constantly evolving.

In this uncommon and outstanding progress we find the lovely music of PAUL BAIRD and his extraordinary brand new solo-project entitled HOSTILE TRIBES. He called my attention for being an skillful Musician and his talent to compose very elaborated melodies that I will talk later. I was pleasantly surprised that he comes from the iconic city of Manchester, UK. One of my favorite and most important places on the Independent Music Scene worldwide. Let's remember that great bands like JOY DIVISION / NEW ORDER and THE SMITHS born there as THE STONE ROSES, THE FALL, THE CHARLATANS, JAMES, HAPPY MONDAYS, AUTECHRE, OASIS, etc. The legendary FACTORY RECORDS label was part of it too...amazing!

PAUL BAIRDS´s biography is very interesting with a prolific discography. He started very young, at the age of sixteen, playing in the Post-Punk band BREATHER as the guitarist. Then he conformed the Dream-Pop band GLASS (2004 - SOVIET UNION RECORDS) with an EP of five songs. After that he reissued GLASS on CD titling it as "Teenage Galaxies"

(2010) with three more songs. His great adventure started when he replaced the name of the band for I SEE ANGELS because he needed a more easily searchable name instead of GLASS that was very generic. The incredible eponymous debut of I SEE ANGELS saw the light in 2011 with favorable reviews and it was the same "Teenage Galaxies" EP from GLASS repackaged with three additional songs to make it a full length album. Their members were Paul Baird in vocals, guitars and keyboards, MARTIN CONWAN on bass and CHRIS NORWOOD on drums. The second album was "Your Memories Are You" (2013) followed by the "Artificial Sunshine EP" (2014). The third big step was the album "The Rest Is Frills" (2015) and the "Nausea EP" (2016). From here

the I SEE ANGELS chapter ends with the reissue of the "Dinosaur EP" (2016) originally recorded in 2005 with Post-Punk, 90s Alternative Music and Indie-Rock influences. It´s very important to say that the legendary SIMON RAYMONDE, bassist and keyboard player of COCTEAU TWINS and owner of the great BELLA UNION label love the work of PAUL BAIRD. I will mention a quote he said: "I SEE ANGELS is one of my favourite bands from the Manchester area - featuring the wonderful vocals of PAUL BAIRD". Among Paul's great projects we continue with JUST EVERYWHERE. In this new phase he created a solo project having all the tools at his disposal in complete freedom. Above all, it´s a minimalist and experimental work full of improvisations and pontaneous melodies without putting limits to his creation. This is a period of transition demonstrating himself how far he can go in his creative odyssey realising the EP "You Will Live On A Beach And Smoke Pot" (2016) and the LP "Silk Of Stars" (2017) showing a Chamber-Pop, Experimental, Ambient and Avant-Garde style. Finally all of this exercises act as a connecting bridge with his brand new soloproject entitled HOSTILE TRIBES.

Now PAUL BAIRD has reinvented himself again with his last and fantastic DIY (Do It Yourself) project called Hostile Tribes. He mantains his essence but at the same time is a totally different thing because he offers a Synth-Pop and Electronic proposal with very well-crafted tunes. This new twist is really impressive and consistent as never before. "Ecstasy & Sweet Communion" (2020 - @MIMIC THIS RECORDS) is the great debut album by HOSTILE TRIBES including nine songs with a marked contrast between each other reflecting diverse styles and influences. Every theme is a world on its own going from Electronica, Synth-Pop, Psychedelia, Art-Rock and Avant-Garde to Shoegaze, Dream-Pop and Ambient Music. The intro song of this passionated album is "Passive Acceptance" and my best choice to be part of this article. I will talk about it below. The next theme is the catchy "Une Brave Femme" and the first single. We can feel a mix of Synth Pop notes from the past and today with a New-Wave touch...really haunting! "Locals" is another addictive tune but this time the Electro vibe is focussed on the drums secuences and it´s very tribal. Paul´s voice is distorsionated and powerful. Things change radically with the

Psychedelic ballad "Perfect Girl" reminding me THE BEATLES and DAVID BOWIE...stunning! "With The Snow" is almost instrumental with a Dark-Wave style surrounded by a lovely and a spooky voice. We continue with "Blood Runs Cold", the most powerful song of the album with many IndieRock, Psychedelia and an Industrial vibe...another amazing number! Turn is now for the brilliant "Everything´s Crowded" with a deep atmosphere and cinematic soundscapes. In the same way we find the Ambient song "Marilyn's Pill Bottles" with keyboards influenced by the KRAUTROCK style and reminiscences of KRAFTWERK.

The last cut of the album is the majestic "Bright Flashes In The Dark Sky", a Neo-Progressive song with a Shoegaze and Psychedelic air that starts with a church organ and then it explodes with incessant drums, guitar riffs and detailed textures and sound effects. When I listened "Passive Acceptance" I was surprised in a gorgeous way because of its originality and the beautiful use of the synths giving a fresh Electronica direction. So it moved me and I decided to write about HOSTILE TRIBES and PAUL BAIRD, the man behind this lovely project and this triumphant song. Another factor that excited me to select this song was the unique and excellent treatment of the voice with many depht and reverb. The theme starts with tender sounds in Lo-Fi mode and then appear the magic of nonstop and repetitive drums along it mixed with elegant voices and many electronic soundscapes. Then we found a "stop" effect created towards two thirds of the tune that works very-well creating a expectancy sensation. It continues with more Electronica and after repeated listening we will be immersed in a sweet and charming trip of groovy rhythms and melodies. This song reminds me influences from M83, NEW ORDER, OMD, THE CHARLATANS, TV ON THE RADIO, ULRICH SCHNAUSS, MASSIVE ATTACK, ORBITAL, etc. and is a great contender to be the best song of the year!...really wonderful!!!. For sure you will have an enjoyable time listening the awesome Music from HOSTILE TRIBES and specially the great single "Passive Acceptance". There will be a special place in your hearts and souls for this beautiful theme. Thanks so much to all my friends and stay safe!!!

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The13th UNA REVISTA IMAGINARIA