Purity Ring @ Austin Music Hall 9.5.15
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.
Noteworthy fact: After meeting in hometown of Edmonton, they moved to opposite ends of Canada - Megan to Halifax and Corin to Montreal. The majority of their first album, Shrines, was produced via email. Corin would send the backing beats and instrumentals and Megan would lay the vocals on top.