#thepurityring

I saw them for the first time at Field Trip Toronto this spring and it was magic, I felt like I was being transformed. But the power cut out and they couldn’t finish the set, which was heartbreaking for everyone. The incredible silver lining was that Megan came out from backstage and I got to meet her. I was totally tongue-tied but I was able to say thank you to her and Corin for all their music has meant to me. She was so kind and open with me and I feel so lucky!!

Purity Ring’s music has been with me in the deep, deep wells of my life, when I was first admitted to hospital and when I went back again. It comforted me, it made a tiny world I could stay inside when I wasn’t safe anywhere else. The Begin Again single was released during another huge change in my life and has become my anthem. And just like Shrines, Another Eternity has carried me, like a bridge of light in a void. Bodyache and Begin Again are especially precious to me. 

I'm a little sad that I didn't give the band Purity Ring much of a listen until the past week or two. I think they would have ousted one of my selections for Top 15 Albums of 2012. 

Hailing from Alberta, Canada, Megan James and Corin Roddick formed Purity Ring back in 2010. Two years later they released their first album, Shrines and have received incredible praise and a strong following worldwide.

Their digi-future-pop beats are one-of-a-kind, just like the clothes Megan James makes for both of them to wear on stage. Also, one-of-a-kind is the beat machine Roddick developed. It combines sound and lighting and is a series of bubble-like lights arranged artistically around a beat machine. As he hits the bubble it lights up and makes a beat at the same time. Check out a live performance from the Pitchfork Festival of Belispeak here:

James' haunting and wide-ranging vocals are complimented well by Roddick's ranging and pitchy beats. Every high tone is balanced by a deep bass creating a full sound even though the music is very minimalistic. While each song stands pretty strong on it's own, hearing the album in it's entirety brings to life a beautiful piece of art. I encourage you to check it out. You may find yourself listening to it on repeat... at least that's what I've been doing. Each listen gets better and better.

That's right, Corin of Purity Ring, please have my maraca.