British brothers Jack and George Barnett have used These New Puritans to advance a rethinking of indie. Complex juxtapositions of styles, and iconoclastic embraces of minimalist forms have made their 2010 album, Hidden, an enduring masterpiece. Reissued now via Domino in a new edition titled Hidden [MMXX], the record's never sounded better, and its force never more obvious.
"We Want War" blends choirs with beats, and all against electronica that skitters and rushes around the music. The sense here is one of peace amid chaos, even as "Hologram" is more straightforward. On this one, the piano carries the tune, with the vocals plaintive ones in spots, even as "Fire Power" gives itself over to pure angst as the drums, like those of a marching band, count this one down. The sheer percussive force here is impressive, and one suspects that a more heavy-hand would have rendered this more precious than listenable, but the Barnetts use a deft touch here. None of this feels too over-thought, and the intellectual aims of the brothers are paired neatly with their musicality.
Hidden [MMXX] contains six bonus cuts, including a brass & woodwinds version of "We Want War" that wouldn't have sounded out of place on a soundtrack, and a few live numbers. None of the bonus cuts seem too essential, however they all flow nicely next to the album tracks, such that the whole thing seems one album rather than a record with bonus tracks. To the Barnetts' credit, the thought behind Hidden has been equaled by the thought that's gone into Hidden [MMXX].
Hidden [MMXX] is out now via Domino.
More details on These New Puritans via the band's official Facebook page.
[Photo: Angelo Pennetta]