Recently on this album review series, I noted the significant number of groups with family ties – pairs of spouses, siblings, parents and offspring, and a few weeks back, about the closest relationship one can have, twins, with the duo The Ocelots, a pair of twins from the UK. That familial relationship tends to foster close vocal harmonies. This week, we have a new recording from another set of twins from the UK, only this one is is quite different. They create some atmospheric music with interesting sonic textures, which is far from the folky vocal harmonies that family groups are known for. This group calls themselves These New Puritans, and their new release is titled Crooked Wing.

These New Puritans are Jack and George Barnett from Essex County in England. They were making music together from early childhood using whatever they could find in terms of bongo drums, and guitars that were, as their bio says, too big for their small hands. Later, they turned toward electronic music and formed a band with a childhood friend, Tom Hein. Jack Barnett is the multi-instrumentalist, principal songwriter and vocalist. George Barnett is the percussionist, electronic musician and producer. They released their first album called Beat Pyramid in 2008, and over the years have had various other members in the group. From the start, the brothers liked to try sonic experimentation, and often brought in distinctive instrumentation. The new album Crooked Wing is the band’s fifth studio release. Although, they had some chart success in the UK, they remain relatively unknown in the US.

The new album is a fascinating blend of eclectic sounds – a church pipe organ is one of the most frequently featured instruments on Crooked Wing, plus vibes, a set of church bells from a field recording, and some unconventional-sounding percussion. There is hardly a guitar to be heard. Guests include vocalist Caroline Polachek, plus a boy soprano on tracks that bookend the album. Though These New Puritans have had other members in the past, the new album is primarily the Barnett twins, who worked with Graham Sutton, who served as co-producer with George Barnett, Ms. Polachek as guest vocalist on a couple of tracks, and jazz bassist Chris Lawrence. Jack Barnett says that the album was recorded “on industrial estates, in churches, in studio, circus wagons and cheap hotel room.” George Barnett that it’s a “DIY album album that doesn’t sound like a DIY album.” The sound is most often atmospheric, but the frequent sound of the pipe organ adds a curious sense of gravitas. But sometimes, the sound can get downright unsettling with ominous-sounding percussion. The overall texture of the music is reminiscent of the another atmospheric British band, The Blue Nile. While there are vocals on the new album, mainly sung by Jack Barnett, the lyrics are almost completely incomprehensible, from a combination of Jack Barnett’s delivery and the studio effects and mix. But the album’s intriguing sonic textures are what sets is apart and makes it so striking at times.

Opening is a track called Waiting which sums up the other-worldly but spiritual sound of the album. There is an unnamed boy soprano singing with the church organ and bells. <<>>

A track called Bells is also quite striking, with the pipe organ, the hand bells, piano, and Jack Barnett’s incomprehensible vocals. <<>>

Quite different is sound is A Season in Hell which well-named. The Gothic-style organ is combined with rather disturbing-sounding percussion, and an almost rap style vocal at times. <<>>

Guest vocalist Caroline Polachek makes her appearance on a piece called Industrial Love Song. It’s perhaps the most melodic track on the album, and it still maintains the group’s sonically experimental sound. <<>>

Another track showing the band’s creative mix of unconventional sounds and atmospherics is a track called I’m Already Here. A French horn, vibes, and ethereal vocals are added to the sonic pastiche.

The pipe organ again forms the backdrop to the more disquieting percussive sounds on the title track Crooked Wind, as the piece goes through distinctive sonic phases. Once again, Jack Barnett’s terrible enunciation renders what lyrics there are as incomprehensible. <<>>

Another of the album’s edgier tracks is one called Wild Fields which could serve as the backdrop for a bad dream. <<>>

The unnamed boy soprano – who at least has good diction -- returns for the closing track Return which is a kind reprise of the opening piece, and which builds to an impressive crescendo. <<>>

Crooked Wing the new fifth album by the group These New Puritans, the work of twin bothers Jack and George Barnett, is one of the most interesting albums to come along this year. It’s a remarkable sonic pastiche of seemingly unrelated instrumentation and influences from classical to alternative, that comes together exceptionally well with an almost dream-like atmospheric quality. Some spots work better than others, and Jack Barnett’s mumbled and slurred vocals make the lyrics, such as they are, almost impossible to make out. But they are not really missed in this album on which the aura of the music is more important than anything it might have to say lyrically.

Our grade for audio quality is close to an “A.” With sonic experimentation like this, studio effects and sonic accuracy are not much of a consideration, and in that respect, the sound space they create is very effective. And they have obviously put a lot of effort into that.

It’s nice when artists really throw out most of the stylistic expectations and conventions for an album that is both iconoclastic and appealing.

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<<>> indicates audio excerpt played in produced radio review

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