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 | |
| Instrument(s) |
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| Years active | 2016-present |
| Labels | Flying Nun, Not Not Fun Records |
Background edit
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 edit
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 edit
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 edit
Albums edit
Other releases edit
- Purple Pilgrims Self-titled (8" lathe cut, Pseudo Arcana 2011)[16]
- "Drink the Juice" (online single, Not Not Fun Records 2017)[27]
Collaborations edit
References edit
- ^ 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.co.nz.
- ^ "SHOP". Notnotfun.com.
- ^ a b "Purple Pilgrims: Perfumed Earth". Pitchfork.
- ^ "Album of the Day: Purple Pilgrims, "Perfumed Earth"". Bandcamp Daily. August 8, 2019.
- ^ "Perfumed Earth, Purple Pilgrims". Southsydneyherald.com.au. October 2019.
- ^ a b Hennessy, Kate (April 1, 2016). "Music You Missed: 10 essential releases from the Australian underground". Theguardian.com.
- ^ a b "Purple Pilgrims: The Kiwi sisters conquering the world from the Coromandel". Stuff.co.nz. March 7, 2020.
- ^ 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.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Purple Pilgrims | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ "Perfumed Earth - Purple Pilgrims | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
- ^ "Feature - Purple Pilgrims: A Single Shared Heart". Nzmusician.co.nz. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- ^ "Purple Pilgrims – In Their Own Words". Fortherabbits.net. August 15, 2019.
- ^ a b "Purple Pilgrims - Purple Pilgrims". Discogs.com. 2011.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2020-07-25. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "UPSET THE RHYTHM | Artists | Gary War / Purple Pilgrims". Upsettherhythm.co.uk.
- ^ "Listen to "Earthly Heaven/Joon" by Purple Pilgrims". Pitchfork.com.
- ^ "Purple Pilgrims - Eternal Delight". Discogs.com. 11 March 2016.
- ^ "PURPLE PILGRIMS ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM - 'PERFUMED EARTH'". Flyingnun.co.nz.
- ^ "Aldous Harding announces New Zealand tour for 2020 Arts Festival with Weyes Blood and Purple Pilgrims". NZ Herald. 26 June 2023.
- ^ "John Maus". Mistletone.net. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- ^ "Aldous Harding / Weyes Blood / Purple Pilgrims". The Big Idea. November 11, 2019.
- ^ "Purple Pilgrims - Eternal Delight". Discogs. 2016.
- ^ "Purple Pilgrims - Perfumed Earth". Discogs. 9 August 2019.
- ^ "Drink the Juice, Watch the Video and Join the Surreal Cult of Purple Pilgrims". Vice.com. 26 January 2017.
- ^ "Gary War / Purple Pilgrims - Split". Discogs. 28 October 2013.
- ^ "Roy Montgomery - Suffuse". Discogs. 17 August 2018.