Purple Pilgrims Explained

Purple Pilgrims
Origin:New Zealand and Hong Kong
Years Active:2016-present
Label:Flying Nun, Not Not Fun Records

Purple Pilgrims is a New Zealand dream pop duo composed of sisters Clementine and Valentine Nixon.

Background

Sisters Clementine and Valentine Nixon are great-granddaughters of folk musician Davie Stewart.[1] They were raised itinerantly between Christchurch, New Zealand and Hong Kong, China.[2] [3]

Musical style

Purple Pilgrims' music combines elements of dream pop,[4] noise,[5] lo-fi, folk, and atmospheric jazz.[6] The duo has been frequently likened to Kate Bush, Beach House[7] [8] and 1980s dream pop artists.[9] Stuff has referred to the band as "Aotearoa's answer to haze-pop pioneers Dead Can Dance and Cocteau Twins".[10]

The sisters' soprano vocal styles have been compared to Marianne Faithfull, Mary Hopkin,[11] Joni Mitchell,[12] Judy Collins, Sandy Denny,[13] Vashti Bunyan and Linda Perhacs.[10]

Purple Pilgrims utilize a mixture of digital and analog recording techniques in their work, from an early DIY approach using cassette tape collage[14] to analog studio processing in their later work.[15]

Career

Purple Pilgrims released their first recording a self-titled 8" lathe cut record in 2011 via New Zealand underground label Pseudo Arcana.[16] The limited edition release came with a 12-page art zine. The New Zealand Listener called the work "assertively lo-as-fi-can-go ... a good example of gently and deeply moving elegant dream pop."[17]

In 2013 the band released a split LP with American avant-garde musician and frequent Purple Pilgrims collaborator Gary War via London-based label Upset the Rhythm.[18] [19]

Purple Pilgrims released their debut LP Eternal Delight in 2016 via Los Angeles based label Not Not Fun Records.[20] The Guardian said that the album "could’ve come direct from golden era 4AD Records when the Cocteau Twins still roamed."[30].[9]

Purple Pilgrims' sophomore album Perfumed Earth was released on August 9, 2019, via Flying Nun Records.[21] The Sydney Morning Herald called the album "an alluring combination of hazy soundscape and songwriting finesse…"[11] while Pitchfork noted “...its lush melodies, strands that wind and splay like a carpet of vine”.[6]

Purple Pilgrims have toured with Ariel Pink, Aldous Harding,[22] John Maus,[23] and Weyes Blood.[24]

Discography

Albums

Other releases

Collaborations

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Street. Danielle. 2014-04-14. Purple Pilgrims - Interviews at Undertheradar. 2020-10-13. UnderTheRadarNZ. en.
  2. Web site: Gleason. Emma. 2020-01-16. Purple Pilgrims' Valentine & Clementine Nixon on their cult-chic style | Miss FQ. Fashion Quarterly.
  3. Web site: Mulligan. Jessie. 2020-01-17. Great NZ Album: Purple Pilgrims - Perfumed Earth. RNZ.
  4. Web site: Clausen. Danielle. 2016-12-16. Favourite Things: The Sisters of Purple Pilgrims. Viva.co.nz.
  5. Web site: SHOP. Notnotfun.com.
  6. Web site: Purple Pilgrims: Perfumed Earth. Pitchfork.
  7. Web site: Album of the Day: Purple Pilgrims, "Perfumed Earth". August 8, 2019. Bandcamp Daily.
  8. Web site: Perfumed Earth, Purple Pilgrims . Southsydneyherald.com.au. October 2019 .
  9. Web site: Music You Missed: 10 essential releases from the Australian underground. Kate. Hennessy. April 1, 2016. Theguardian.com.
  10. Web site: Purple Pilgrims: The Kiwi sisters conquering the world from the Coromandel. March 7, 2020. Stuff.co.nz.
  11. Web site: Music reviews: JJ Cale, Snoh Aalegra, Andrea Keller and more. John Shand, Bernard Zuel, Barney. Zwartz. August 23, 2019. The Sydney Morning Herald.
  12. Web site: Purple Pilgrims | Biography & History. AllMusic.
  13. Web site: Perfumed Earth - Purple Pilgrims | Songs, Reviews, Credits. AllMusic.
  14. Web site: Feature - Purple Pilgrims: A Single Shared Heart. Nzmusician.co.nz. 7 June 2023.
  15. Web site: Purple Pilgrims – In Their Own Words. Fortherabbits.net. August 15, 2019.
  16. Web site: Purple Pilgrims - Purple Pilgrims. Discogs.com. 2011 .
  17. Web site: Purple Pilgrims and Radiant Door by Crystal Stilts review . 2020-07-25 . 2020-07-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200725065030/https://www.noted.co.nz/archive/archive-listener-nz-2012/purple-pilgrims-and-radiant-door-by-crystal-stilts-review . dead .
  18. Web site: UPSET THE RHYTHM | Artists | Gary War / Purple Pilgrims. Upsettherhythm.co.uk.
  19. Web site: Listen to "Earthly Heaven/Joon" by Purple Pilgrims. Pitchfork.com.
  20. Web site: Purple Pilgrims - Eternal Delight. Discogs.com. 11 March 2016 .
  21. Web site: PURPLE PILGRIMS ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM - 'PERFUMED EARTH'. Flyingnun.co.nz.
  22. Web site: Aldous Harding announces New Zealand tour for 2020 Arts Festival with Weyes Blood and Purple Pilgrims. NZ Herald. 26 June 2023 .
  23. Web site: John Maus . Mistletone.net. 7 June 2023.
  24. Web site: Aldous Harding / Weyes Blood / Purple Pilgrims. November 11, 2019. The Big Idea.
  25. Web site: Purple Pilgrims - Eternal Delight. Discogs. 2016 .
  26. Web site: Purple Pilgrims - Perfumed Earth. Discogs. 9 August 2019 .
  27. Web site: Drink the Juice, Watch the Video and Join the Surreal Cult of Purple Pilgrims. Vice.com. 26 January 2017 .
  28. Web site: Gary War / Purple Pilgrims - Split. Discogs. 28 October 2013 .
  29. Web site: Roy Montgomery - Suffuse. Discogs. 17 August 2018 .

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