Music meets Atari in 'Crystal Castles'
David Kaminsky
Issue date: 3/19/08 Section: Cadenza
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Crystal Castles
Rating: 4/5
Tracks to download: "Alice Practice," "Untrust Us," "Air War"
For fans of: Dan Deacon, The DeathSet, Hot Chip, electronic/experimental dance music
After a whole host of indie acclaim for the various singles they've released over the past two years, Crystal Castles has released their first LP: a self-titled, 16-track disc containing both brand new tracks and many favorites from their previously released singles.
Crystal Castles was formed as a project by Ethan Kath who was later joined by Alice Glass on vocals. Their sound is distinctly electronic but unique among the genre. The reason for this is their unusual instrumentation: most notably, the placing of an Atari 5200 sound chip inside a keyboard.
Using their strange instrumentation, Crystal Castles have seemingly created two different kinds of songs on the album. One more mild in manner and typical of most electronic acts' sound, the other ringing with abrasive chimes that truly do sound straight out of a video game and with penetratingly scratchy vocals from Glass.
It's almost as though this should have been broken up into two different albums. One that is pretty much a compilation of songs previous released as singles and EPs (as these are mostly of the abrasive style) and one of the new tracks (as these are mostly more mild in manner). However, what we have is one single album with two personalities, and while it works better than one might expect it to due to the sheer strengths of the songs of both styles, it could have been executed better.
Crystal Castles' more abrasive tracks are what made this such an anticipated release in the first place and the versions on the new LP are mostly the same and thus still outstanding. "Alice Practice," which was made a song by accident (as it's literally a vocal test they did when Glass first joined Kath) is arguably the best song of the CD as the Atari chimes and screeching vocals propel the song through all two minutes and 41 seconds with a ruthlessness not seen in the rest of the album.
"Xxzcuzx Me" and "Love and Caring," while not reaching the level of intensity "Alice Practice" achieves, come close and are two other highlights of the album. "1983 1991," "Air War" and their remix of Health's "Crimewave" also contain their fair share of Atari chirps and chimes while being a bit more mellow and traditionally danceable (i.e. not hardcore dancing).
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
n0zz
posted 5/10/08 @ 1:44 PM CST
Maybe you would like to check out this and really wonder about the BS around that atari chip in a keyboard story:
http://www.myspace.com/crystaltheft
dr ops
posted 5/15/08 @ 10:43 PM CST
crystal castles have already lost all cred by lying that they knew nothing of the scene and chiptune artists that it's now been proven that they sampled heavily
then they disrespect their fans by lying to the press about it. (Continued…)
animal style
posted 5/15/08 @ 11:16 PM CST
CRYSTAL CASTLES STEAL MUSIC. THE CHIPTUNE COMMUNITY TAKES GREAT OFFENSE TO ANYONE WHO LINKS THEM WITH THE GENRE. I SPIT IN THEIR FACE.
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