Hidden - These New Puritans (2010) In three words: Chaotic, Diverse, Unorthodox
Hidden is the second album from These New Puritans, (often abbreviated as TNPS) a band from Southend in the UK. TNPS consists of Jack Barnett, his twin brother George, Thomas Hein and Sophie Sleigh-Johnson. In 2008 the band released their highly successful debut album, Beat Pyramid. Their sound is heavily beat driven can be described as a mix of indie and art rock. However, in an ambitious step forward, These New Puritans bring classical influences and epic percussion to Hidden. It is almost impossible not to draw comparisons between TNPS and experimental band, Liars. Yet the band's front man, Jack Barnett asserts that These New Puritans are "anti-experimental. I'm into narrative, precision, clarity." In turn, preparation for the creation of Hidden was rigorous. A thirteen piece orchestra including clarinets, alto flutes, bassoons, french horns, trombones and a tuba were squeezed into the studio (the six-foot taiko drums would not fit).
Hidden commences with Time Xone, an instrumental piece. You could easily think that you've accidentally picked up something from the classical section. The track begins with swooning and mournful strings, woodwind, and brass. This piece could serve as music for a funeral or an overture for an orchestra. The fragile music starts to fade and move to the next song, We Want War. This track is unlike anything I have ever heard. It begins with an ominous sense of gathering storm clouds, created through droning horns and bassoons, electronic tremors and desolate drums. Then tribal wood-on-wood clacks and demonic choirs conjure images of a battlefield in my mind. Meanwhile, Barnett's vocals are quiet but distinctive as he mutters, "secret recording were made in the marsh, I bore a hole just to see. Knights dance in molecules, here's Gallahad. They're rising back up, they're rising back up." Overall, We Want War is epic and exhilarating.
The Next track is called Hologram, which acts as a shift in mood. This track, which centres around piano and stomping drums, is prettier and somewhat human. However, the violent and ruthless Attack Music destroys this. Track is very elaborate and hard to describe. It begins with massive drum and crunchy digital beats amidst shattering glass and drawn swords. It literally is attack music, with eerie chants and hallucinogenic coos; "It was September, harmful logic. It was September, this is attack music." There is also an appearance of brass and woodwind instruments which adds to the chaos. After Attack Music comes Fire-Power, which continues the delirium further. This is another heavy drum track. I would say that it's the only song on the record that contains any guitar. Toward the end of the song, the drum beats fade out and the sombre classical arrangements merge in. The sixth track on Hidden, Orion is malevolent and feels ritualistic or pagan. This is created through choirs and mysterious references to astrology; "Hidden exit after Osiris. All the stars are swords, I've never been so sure." The next track, Canticle, provides a soothing orchestral interlude. Further into the album is White Chords, which is mainly electronic beats and cathartic guitars through the chorus. This could possibly be the most comfortable moment on the record.
The album is concluded with an instrumental song called 5. From this song, the mysteries of Hidden subside and you are left to sit there and wonder what just happened. It commences with twinkling xylophones and slowly introduces a flurry of flutes, clarinets and brass. Eventually a children's choir creates an ethereal atmosphere as Jack whispers: "All the tree started to walk and the rivers started to talk, but only through digital manipulation." Then trumpets and tubas slowly groan Hidden to sleep. 5 is a sublime end to the immaginarium that is Hidden.
