These New Puritans

The Profile

These New Puritans are an English art‑rock/experimental band formed in Southend‑on‑Sea in 2006 by Jack Barnett, George Barnett, and Thomas Hein. Renowned for radical stylistic shifts from post‑punk to orchestral minimalism, they’ve released Beat Pyramid (2008), Hidden (2010), Field of Reeds (2013), and Inside the Rose (2019).

Led by composer Jack Barnett with drummer George Barnett. Jack scored Dior’s 2007 men’s show with Navigate, Navigate. Hidden (Angular Recordings, 2010) was largely composed by Jack using Foley techniques, Japanese drums, choirs, and unusual percussive sounds; it was developed between Prague and Los Angeles. Reviews note bold evolution from Beat Pyramid’s post‑punk edges to Field of Reeds’ orchestral restraint, with comparisons to Talk Talk and Sigur Rós.

DeBaser’s reviews trace These New Puritans from the sharp post‑punk of Beat Pyramid to the labyrinthine Hidden and the hushed orchestral Field of Reeds. Critics highlight risk, invention, and unusual instrumentation (choirs, brass, Foley). Standout tracks cited include We Want War, Fragment Two, V (Island Song), and Organ Eternal. Overall sentiment skews appreciative of their fearless shifts and singular sound.