Purple Pilgrims
Purple Pilgrims is a New Zealand dream pop duo composed of sisters Clementine and Valentine Nixon.
Purple Pilgrims | |
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![]() Purple Pilgrims at Laneway Festival, 2017 | |
Background information | |
Origin | New Zealand and Hong Kong |
Genres | |
Instruments |
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Years active | 2016-present |
Labels | Flying Nun |
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[]
- Purple Pilgrims Self-titled (8" lathe cut, Pseudo Arcana 2011)[16]
- "Drink the Juice" (online single, Not Not Fun Records 2017)[27]
Collaborations[]
- Gary War / Purple Pilgrims (Split LP, Upset the Rhythm 2013)[28]
- Mirage by Roy Montgomery and Purple Pilgrims (Roy Montgomery 'Suffuse' LP, Grapefruit Records 2018)[29]
References[]
- ^ Street, Danielle (2014-04-14). "Purple Pilgrims - Interviews at Undertheradar". UnderTheRadarNZ. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
- ^ Gleason, Emma (2020-01-16). "Purple Pilgrims' Valentine & Clementine Nixon on their cult-chic style | Miss FQ". Fashion Quarterly.
- ^ Mulligan, Jessie (2020-01-17). "Great NZ Album: Purple Pilgrims - Perfumed Earth". RNZ.
- ^ Clausen, Danielle (2016-12-16). "Favourite Things: The Sisters of Purple Pilgrims". Viva.
- ^ "SHOP". www.notnotfun.com.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Purple Pilgrims: Perfumed Earth". Pitchfork.
- ^ "Album of the Day: Purple Pilgrims, "Perfumed Earth"". Bandcamp Daily. August 8, 2019.
- ^ "Perfumed Earth, Purple Pilgrims | South Sydney Herald".
- ^ Jump up to: a b Hennessy, Kate (April 1, 2016). "Music You Missed: 10 essential releases from the Australian underground" – via www.theguardian.com.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Purple Pilgrims: The Kiwi sisters conquering the world from the Coromandel". Stuff. March 7, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Zwartz, John Shand, Bernard Zuel, Barney (August 23, 2019). "Music reviews: JJ Cale, Snoh Aalegra, Andrea Keller and more". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ "Purple Pilgrims | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ "Perfumed Earth - Purple Pilgrims | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ "Feature - Purple Pilgrims: A Single Shared Heart".
- ^ "Purple Pilgrims – In Their Own Words". August 15, 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Purple Pilgrims - Purple Pilgrims". Discogs.
- ^ https://www.noted.co.nz/archive/archive-listener-nz-2012/purple-pilgrims-and-radiant-door-by-crystal-stilts-review
- ^ "UPSET THE RHYTHM | Artists | Gary War / Purple Pilgrims". www.upsettherhythm.co.uk.
- ^ "Listen to "Earthly Heaven/Joon" by Purple Pilgrims" – via pitchfork.com.
- ^ "Purple Pilgrims - Eternal Delight". Discogs.
- ^ "PURPLE PILGRIMS ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM - 'PERFUMED EARTH'". FLYING NUN RECORDS.
- ^ "Aldous Harding announces New Zealand tour for 2020 Arts Festival with Weyes Blood and Purple Pilgrims". NZ Herald.
- ^ "John Maus : Mistletone".
- ^ "Aldous Harding / Weyes Blood / Purple Pilgrims". The Big Idea. November 11, 2019.
- ^ "Purple Pilgrims - Eternal Delight". Discogs.
- ^ "Purple Pilgrims - Perfumed Earth". Discogs.
- ^ "Drink the Juice, Watch the Video and Join the Surreal Cult of Purple Pilgrims". www.vice.com.
- ^ "Gary War / Purple Pilgrims - Split". Discogs.
- ^ "Roy Montgomery - Suffuse". Discogs.
- New Zealand musical duos
- New Zealand pop music groups
- Sibling musical duos
- Female musical duos