Crystal Castles: Crystal Castles
Friday, 25 Apr 2008 14:32
The Canadian electro duo release their hugely anticipated debut
PIAS Recordings, April 28th.
In a nutshell...
Electro. Unusual. Spikey. Random. Unique.
What's it all about?
Amid a number of Canadian bands about to break through on the British scene, Crystal Castles appear with a sound like no other, fuelled by the electronica of the 80s and a number of synthesisers and keyboards.
"The most exciting and original band in the world right now" – according to Loud and Quiet magazine – Crystal Castles come fresh from a Skins appearance and a number of low key tour dates looking to break through on the recent electro wave.
Who's it by?
Toronto-based duo Ethan Kath and Alice Glass formed Crystal Castles in 2003 after Kath asked Glass to record a demo vocal and the results – Alice Practice – became their first single, which was released last year.
As an example...
"Eyes lit/I pawn short breaths/A fawn's dark eye lids/Dada dada die/But life's breast/Like a sun against my head" – Crimewave
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
I very much doubt it. As good as this debut is – mixed with the growth of electro on both sides of the pond – the Grammys would be a major shock.
What the others say
"Crystal Castles make dance music for sociopaths. They're 80s like Patrick Bateman and the Blade Runner replicants. They're the cocktail made with strychnine and broken glass that you drink anyway" – NME
So is it any good?
Haunting lyrics set to electro beats hasn't been a recipe for success since the mid-80s, when Soft Cell and the like roamed the charts. However, Crystal Castles might well have broken that two decade-long duck.
From the start, it is important to point out that this self-titled debut will not be everyone's cup of tea. The frankly weird arrangement of electronic sounds will put many people off Crystal Castles at first listen. Even after a few listens, the affect of the pure noise can become grating.
Alice Practice, however, should get people dancing. It's a bizarre tune, one which the album listener doesn't get the full force of, when compared to their live efforts. Nonetheless, it is infectious.
The beautiful Magic Spells takes you to distant places and is a brief moment of clarity around the chaos. Second single Crimewave has a distinct Simian Mobile Disco-esque edge to it.
Elsewhere, the amazingly titled XXZXCUZE Me pummels the listener with as many random sounds as possible but, weirdly, it works. It shouldn't, it really shouldn't, but it does.
As a progressive act, Crystal Castles are up there with the best. Their take on the electro scene is certainly unique. This won't sell bucketloads but it's not designed to. If there is one phrase to sum it up, it is 'of the moment'.
7 /10
Richard Fox
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