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Crystal Castles
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| List Price: | £11.99 |
| Price: | £5.98 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Delivery on orders over £15. Details |
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk
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Average customer review:
Product Description
Taking their name from the 1980s cartoon She-Ra, Crystal Castles are Ethan Khan and Alice Glass. Known for their affiliation with bands such as Klaxons, GoodBooks and the label EdBanger this is the duo's debut album. 8-Bit synth pads, Atari effects, broken drums are all blended resulting in a noisy, melodic and bombastic burrowing of sound. Includes the singles 'Air War' and 'Alice Practice'.
Track Listing
- Untrust Us
- Alice Practice
- Crimewave
- Magic Spells
- xxzxcuzx
- Air War
- Courtship Dating
- Good Time
- 1991
- Vanished
- Knights
- Love And Caring
- Through The Hosery
- Reckless
- Black Panther
- Tell Me What To Swallow
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #687 in Music
- Released on: 2008-04-28
- Number of discs: 1
Customer Reviews
Mediocre electronica
Well, I will not deny that this album interested me when I first heard 'Alice Practice' at a mates house. A great song, edgy and yet very emotional, quite a punch in the stomach! It seemed finally a band was doing something to break down the barriers between pop and electronica.
Three listenings to the album have left me somewhat confused, though I like the riffs and melodies (and can even stand the video game sounds that make them up) I found that the woman made the whole thing a bit too ridiculous at times. Her voice too often competes with the noise from the DJ, in a bad way, so that you can hardly ever understand what she is saying. This forces you to listen to the mediocre tunes instead which are not where the music's strengths lie. The whole album is split in this way between her angsty, discordant lyrics and the jingly sound of the video game music. It truly disorientates you at times (in a bad way) and leaves the album sounding like two, slightly weak and unfinished albums in your mind rather than one whole and complete album.
Worse still the few tracks which get you interested are often brutally interuppted by a stupid bleeping beginning to another track. It make the ordeal of listening to the album almost unbearable.
The lack of synergy between the proto punk singer and the oddball electronica music makes this a below par album and three stars is for the risk they took recording this (that is if it was a risk). I can only hope they can utilise a wider range of sounds next time to complement her voice, then we might see their true potential as a band.
CRYSTAL CRYSTAL CASTLES CASTLES
I decided to buy this after seeing a low price tag, hearing a couple of singles and a bit of hype. Fortunately, the album was a good buy, and is a different listen to the stuff I usually buy. I'm quite open to music, and this is certainly different. A strong usage of techno synths, and vocal effects, but the sound they create is unique. I can understand people not liking them, but give them a go; refresh and modernise your CD collection!
Overhyped and under skilled
What the hell has happened to electronica in 2008!? There are many good bands coming through but why oh why do groups like Crystal Castles have to come along and get in the way of the talented people? This album is lackluster and full of 80s synth patterns which can sound great when done well but these guys have managed to literally copy 80s Atari games and shout over them and call it music. There are a couple of good tunes but that is about it. Save your money and listen to New Young Pony Club or other such bands who have some talent.
