Poptones Detail Second Album ‘Pure’

Danish experimental rock trio Poptones has announced their second full-length album, Pure, arriving September 26th on Happy Metal Records. The news coincides with the release of the album’s first single, “Skin of Sea” – a clear departure in tone and scale, and a hint at the sonic and emotional terrain to come.

The track’s early concepts began to take shape during an improvisation session the band undertook in a house in Northern Jutland, best known as the place where former Danish Prime Minister Jens Otto Krag passed away.

The band explain:

“The first idea for “Skin of Sea” came together quickly and intuitively, going from nothing to a finished sketch in just a few hours, which is far from our usual writing pace. Maybe that’s why the track leans more on simplicity in chords and structure. Intuitive ideas often have a clear sense of direction, which was definitely the case with “Skin of Sea”. It was very inspiring to work with.

It was also our first dive into using instruments we hadn’t worked with before. Especially the outro pulled us toward a grander sound and opened up new ways of composing as Poptones.”

The single is accompanied by a self-directed video, shot on a broken phone camera and slowed to 20% speed, evoking the track’s themes of drift and distortion. Blurred and submerged visuals reinforce the sense of emotional displacement that runs through both the song and the broader record.

Pure is Poptones’ second full-length album, following 2022’s Between Darkness & Daylight. The new record was developed across several locations – Copenhagen, India, Italy, and the aforementioned final resting place of Danish Prime Minister Jens Otto Krag – and blends solo-composed sketches with collaborative improvisations. The result is a 12-track album that moves between prog, hardcore, indie, and avant-rock, featuring both standard and non-traditional instrumentation.

Pure Track Listing:

1. Skin of Sea
2. Say Something Now
3. This Will Be a Good Day
4. Asleep
5. Mirror World (feat. Victor Kaas)
6. O of Life
7. Narrow Streets
8. 17 Hours
9. Thin Air
10. I Am Here
11. Hypnagogic State
12. Eyes Closed

Poptones ‘Pure’ album artwork