Yahoo! Music Review

Released on 05/05/08
Label: Domino

In a week of singles so '80s indebted you keep expecting a guest vocal by Cheryl Baker to pop up, These New Puritans are a reminder that that decade wasn't all synth and shimmer, Aha and Astley. Over three discordant, dislocating minutes the Southend teens channel Specials spookiness, Fall guitar angularity and even Sisters Of Mercy synth doom, while singer Jack Barnett comes over all Johnny Lydon in his PiL phase.

Which may make it sound hopelessly derivative, but so unusual are the influences, and so haphazard their assembly that "Swords Of Truth" actually sounds remarkably original. Barnett babbles over a thudding two step beat, while robot horns blast and monster guitars menace. God knows what he's singing about - "We! Wrote! All! The numbers! In your body!" is a typical line - but given the apocalyptic mood and general sense of unease and decay, our bet is on Southend.

    by Jaime Gill