Radio Express Notes For
Radioplay Dance Express Edition #885 of 2010 Jul 02
Our featured Dance Express Spotlight comes from a rising experimental electronic band from
Ontario, Canada. Vocalist Alice Glass joined multi-instrumentalist/producer Ethan Kath's solo
project in 2005, and soon the two started to build a strong online fan base with their unique style
which blends electro, '80s dance, and shoegaze rock beautifully.
According to Ethan Kath, Crystal Castles got its moniker from the '80s television cartoon series
called "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe". Crystal Castles was the name of one of the
main character's dwelling, and it's also the name of an Atari video game popular in the '80s.
Coincidentally, many early fans described the band's sound to being inside a video game played
on a broken TV set. The comparison is oddly appropriate considering that one component of the
band's unique sound comes from a keyboard modified with an Atari 5200 sound chip.
In 2006 Crystal Castles released the limited edition 7" vinyl single "Alice Practice" via Merok
Records. The 500 copies of this single sold out in three days, and this led to remixes for their
label mate Klaxons as well as GoodBooks, Uffie, Health, and Block Party. Several limited
edition 7" vinyl singles followed in 2007 on various indie labels including two on London's
Trouble Records. All singles sold out immediately and finally in 2008 Lies Records collected
most of the singles and released them on a CD for the first time. The eponymous debut album,
"Crystal Castles", contained many previously unreleased singles and three new songs for the
project. The album was also released as a double album on 12" vinyl, and it made NME
Magazine's "Top 50 Greatest Albums of the Decade" at No. 39.
2010 marks a new era for Crystal Castles as they release their second album "Crystal Castles II".
The new album sees the duo exploring more styles, from shoegaze to pop-oriented stuff. Their
second full-length LP feels more cohesive and more listenable than their previous work. It's
apparent that Kath and Glass have matured some from their Atari-influenced days, and their
second album is a step forward for the band as they emerge out of their basements and create a
new path for their music. The first single is titled "Celestica", and it's a dark and catchy dance
track that's sure to cater to their loyal fans as well as take Crystal Castles to new heights.
by Victor Caballero