#strangerthanearth

From the moment Purity Ring (vocalist Megan and instrumentalist Corin) hit the stage, an ethereal wave rushed over the crowd. In 3 short years since the release of their first album, Shrines, it’s clear to see they have evolved as artists. Their overall stage presence and choreography is more strategic; their sound crisper and less atmospheric and distant. They opened with “stranger than earth,” as Corin builds a booming trap production around Megan that feels both captivating and mysterious as she breathes ghostly vocals. This Canadian electro-pop guy-girl duo were getting ready to take us on a journey through gloomy valleys and gleaming peaks. A brooding fairytale.

It wasn’t just their sound that was impressive; it was the creativity of their live performance. Corin’s drum synth-machine lit up brightly with each change of beat as Megan walked slowly through draping string bulbs suspended over the stage. Placed strategically mid-show - song, “Belispeak” carries the momentum forward with its shuddering bass and high energy hooks. The flow and transitions between songs is seamless. Nothing is rushed or un-natural.

As I looked beside me, the crowd at Austin Music Hall was nothing short of mesmerized. They received a powerful ovation from the crowd when they closed with “begin again,” one of their most popular singles off of latest album, Another Eternity. I admittedly got chills witnessing such raw talent before my eyes. You had to be there.