By Kendall McCabe
Somewhere on the spectrum between Bjork and Braids lies Purity Ring, whose debut album Shrines was released on July 24.
“Fineshrine” may be the Montreal-based duo’s most easily accessible song; the gossamer modern beats and synths simply aren’t enough to hide the intrinsic pop sensibility lying beneath. Yet, lurking in the lyrics is a deeply tormented quality that sets this track apart. The repeated line “Cut open my sternum and pull my little ribs around you”—which, at first, seems to veer dangerously close to cutesy, Ingrid Michaelson-esque territory— is raw and daring.
Stream “Shrines” in its entirety at NPR before it is released on 4AD.
