Poptones first came together as teenagers on Denmark’s windswept west coast. Over time, the trio have evolved into a band driven by restless curiosity and an instinct to push beyond boundaries. Their second album, Pure, reflects that spirit. Written across Copenhagen, India, Italy, and even within the house where former Danish Prime Minister Jens Otto Krag passed away, the record is a fearless dive into improvisation and genre-bending experimentation.
The album comes in guns blazing with the discordant guitars of “Skin of Sea,” before slipping into more laid-back slacker indie textures that leave you warm and fuzzy. The clash between abrasive riffs and softer tones makes for a gripping opener: dreamy, experimental, and the sound of a band hitting their prime together. The more angular riffs pull you in again on “Say Something Now,” its wandering lines dragging you deeper into their world.
“This Will Be a Good Day” is a more stripped-back, jazzy piece, meandering slowly before building towards a climax coloured by Oscar Alstrup’s saxophone and Bertelsen’s warm delivery. “Asleep” shifts into stranger territory, squeaking along over vibraphone by Rémy Gouffault and hushed vocals, while “Mirror World” hurls itself into grungier terrain. With Victor Kaas (Eyes/LLNN) guesting on vocals, the track erupts into chaos, one of the record’s wildest moments.
That constant back and forth becomes a theme on Pure, keeping the album unpredictable as it evolves. Every listen reveals a new detail, rewarding repeat plays. “O of Life” is a twisted carnival ride, chaotic and unhinged, with flashes of early Mr Bungle. By contrast, “17 Hours” offers an intimate interlude, acoustic guitar and field recordings laying the groundwork for a delicate, 90s-tinged vocal. “I Am Here” leans heavily on synths and washed-out vocals, while “Hypnagogic State” builds tension with eerie persistence, pulling you further under.
Closer “Eyes Closed” feels like an unrepeatable moment, an improvised fragment that flows naturally into something darker and more hypnotic. It leaves you suspended in its atmosphere, wanting more.
Pure is a record of contrasts: harsh and tender, chaotic and calm, restless but always intentional. It’s an album that resists easy categorisation, and one that will keep listeners coming back to discover what they missed the first time.