Purity Ring - Another Eternity [Album Review]

(For a TRACK-BY-TRACK review, scroll down.) The second studio album from Canadian duo Purity Ring was always going to be notable, whether it followed the same musical route as Shrines (2012) or tried something new. In the case of Another Eternity, it isn't held down by musical classifications, but it certainly has taken a turn for the more pop-centric and has attracted attention from the mainstream music scene. But is it a step in the right direction for the duo or a unfortunate manoeuvre? The answer isn't that clear. Whilst Another Eternity is a mix of intriguing sounds and blissful vocals, some tracks fall short of the duo's potential, and may leave listeners disappointed or simply wanting more. 

‘Heartsigh’ opens the new album, possessing a sweet melody that bewitches upon first listen and develops into a culmination of airy vocals and mid-tempo beats. ‘Bodyache’ follows this with a more mainstream sound, which could get a bit dull after repeated listens, but has an initial charm that may not wear off as quickly for some listeners. The dazzling ‘Push Pull’ succeeds this, which is overall a strong tune that has garnered a decent amount of mainstream popularity upon its release, and it’s not hard to see why. The solid production, the combination of dynamic duo James and Roddick, and the witch house feel leave an everlasting impression. 

Unfortunately, the strong start doesn't last and the aptly titled 'Repetition' is awfully repetitive and a little boring. 'Stranger Than Earth' is up next and is an unusual addition. You might expect to hear something similar on an R&B or rap album, and is a strange choice for a middle-track. The mixed frenetic beats pair with dramatic drops and changes in vocal pitch and intensity and a grimy sound that sounds misplaced. Re-assuringly, the memorable 'Begin Again' is here to satisfy those who are perhaps a little confused at this point. Shrines era fans will either love this or hate it, but it has the fusion of music genres that make it stand out from your regular EDM or electro-pop tracks, and James' vocals draw you in with great ease and aren't drowned out by beats unlike other tracks on the album. 

‘Dust Hymn’ is track #7, and it comes out fighting, blending hypnotic beats and strong visual lyrics from James', making for an enthralling listen. ‘Flood on the Floor’ is a mix of EDM and strong electro with a strong instrumental accompaniment from Roddick and lyrics that sometimes don’t make sense but for some reason strangely work. This one's hard to easily forget. The unforgettable ‘Sea Castle’ is next and it's a slightly eerier track with all the atmospheric beats that Purity Ring are known for. James’ vocals are still the most captivating part of the track and the sweet contrasting beat mesmerise in all the right ways. The last song on the album is ‘Stillness in Woe’ which has a strong instrumental opening that compliments James’ soaring voice and has a sound similar to a CHVRCHES track, but we would say this is a good thing. Dreamy and ethereal, ‘Stillness in Woe’ is a worthy listen and allows the album to end on a high note. 

Another Eternity is certainly a move to the more mainstream pop industry and it's unclear if this is a calculated risk or just mere experimentation. No doubt what some may have liked about their debut album Shrines will have been the edginess and indie-esque nature, and this album certainly is not that – however, it is a clear new direction where the duo have tried out different styles and it does work in some areas. The album is an unusual turn for the electronic pop that is perfected on such tracks like ‘Push Pull’ and ‘Begin Again’, whilst there are still the strong visual lyrics and similar atmospheric audio to the previous Shrines. James’ vocals are best heard on tracks which truly allow them to shine, without being overpowered by dulcet, repetitive tones on aptly named ‘Repetition’ and ‘Bodyache’, which may not be to everyone’s tastes. Roddick and James succeed best when they are seemingly not trying to be more pop-central and stick to their roots, as ‘Sea Castle’ and ‘Dust Hymn’ prove. Overall, Another Eternity is a riveting mix of a multitude of musical genres which are not so easily sub-divided and classified, and perhaps this is best for the group, who seem to work best when they have no limitations, even if this is a risk that sometimes doesn’t pay off.