Crystal Castles has a nice variation to it: "Untrust Us" incorporates adorable Atari vocals with a roundabout synth loop while "Alice Practice", "Xxzxcuzx Me" and "Love and Caring" have Alice Glass screaming in fragments to Ethan Kath's Atari laced keyboard OCD. Ever heard of LA's HEALTH? If not, here is the nice � yet, underwhelming � track, "Crimewave (Crystal Castles Vs. HEALTH)". It's sterile vocals and beats aren't bad, it's just not what it could have been, so if you want to hear more of HEALTH, I suggest listening to their debut.
The mournful "Magic Spells" is a shy number - probably the alter ego to "Untrust Us" - that will probably pull at your little heartstrings. "Air War" incorporates cutesy vocal fragments with mini pangs/pings, squeaks and atmospheric pads, finally merging them all together into a slow-mo rave sexpot.
"1991" is a great trance track, but I can't help but think that this song was on Dance Dance Revolution � I never got into Guitar Hero like the rest of the kids. I'm surprised more writers haven't mentioned the refreshing, "Vanished". This song pulls together lusty 80's vocal banter and melancholy, yet sexy synth loops � a 4-minute break from the strange arsenal of mish-mashers.
Now let's talk about a ruthless track called, "Knights" � I mean who doesn't want to talk about grotesque electronic moans? In my book, this has to be the second best track on the album (with the best being a tie between "Air War" or "Vanished") with its acid wows and cheery synth waves.
The beginning of "Through the Hosiery" reminded me of one of Dan Deacon's tracks from Spiderman of the Rings � I can't remember which one exactly � that is until Alice Glass' girly vocals bellow to hypnotizing Atari blurbs. It's hard not to imagine these sound bites and vocals crisscrossing one another; finally forming into a pair of low labor, yet intricately sewn pair of socks � maybe I went a little too far with this idea, but I think it would make for a kickass music video.
"Black Panther" is plain stellar � if you liked 90's style dance hits then you'll probably like this rambunctious little track. Ending things is acoustic tearjerker, "Tell Me What To Swallow". Not a bad close for such a varied album.
Crystal Castles will probably fall under scrutiny for it's ragtag posse of electronic misfits, but this is only a setback if you want it to be � and why stress yourself wondering what the next track will sound like when you could just sit back and relax, have a drink or two and marvel at the Crystal Castles' creations?
Track Listing
1. Untrust Us
2. Alice Practice
3. Crimewave (Crystal Castles Vs. HEALTH)
4. Magic Spells
5. Xxzxcuzx Me
6. Air War
7. Courtship Dating
8. Good time
9. 1991
10. Vanished
11. Knights
12. Love and Caring
13. Through the Hosiery
14. Reckless
15. Black Panther
16. Tell Me What To Swallow
CD Info and Links
Crystal Castles
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