Pitchfork

Control might seem like a lot to ask of teenaged racketeers These New Puritans, but the aptly titled "Chamber" finds the Southenders in surprisingly tight quarters-- the gasping, Kraftwerk-precise drumkit, muffled vocals, and claustrophobic production not far removed from the sound of a lot of early Joy Division bootlegs (if Joy Division were into things like enjoying themselves).

After the shock and awe of last year's "En Papier", this song seems almost polite, but while "Chamber" may be short on fireworks, its rigid structure creates its own kind of friction. The newfound discipline suits them, unexpected as it is-- more proof that restraint doesn't always equal dull.

MP3: > These New Puritans: "Chamber"
[from Digital Penetration compilation; out now on Alt Delete Recordings]