To call These New Puritans ambitious is to understate the case. The

Southend

quartet pushed the boundaries of indie and art-rock by touring their last album with an orchestra and a children’s choir. Their third record goes further, although these nine tracks are more minimalist than their predecessors; most incorporate austere piano with off-kilter rhythms and woodwind or brass of some description. The addition of new vocalist

Elisa Rodrigues

impacts on the eerie disorientation of

The Light in Your Name

, while the grimy, disconcerting

Spiral

is truly the soundtrack to a nightmare, with its screeching violin and ominous bassoon intro. The odd concoction of sounds and shapes takes some absorption and occasionally drifts into self-indulgence. But when it works, These New Puritans seem like a truly exciting band.

thesenewpuritans.com

Download:

The Light in Your Name, Spiral