Crystal Castles - 'Crystal Castles (III)

Guess which number Crystal Castles album this is. Go on, I bet you can't? Well, cunningly woven in to the subtleties of the name is the fact that it's their third studio album, released on Fiction records this week (12th Nov).

THE ARTWORK

 At once inciting a sense of innocence with a sense of danger. A sense of separation/conflict (black vs light) and a sense of monochrome intimacy. Why does the chap have his head buried in the burka wearing form. Are they comforting or, with a gloved hand around the neck, strangling. Are they at rest or struggling and lashing out.

This sense of danger, of conflict and darkness pervade all Crystal Castle's music and this artwork is certainly 'on brand'. No words, no name, just an image that is stark and speaks for itself - the perfect mirror of the band's music.

UPDATE:  It is a photo of a Yemeni child being cradled by his mother after a tear-gas attack.

Crystal Castles (III)

THE MUSIC

This is a band who, as you may have gathered and if you've heard or seen them before, don't delicately patter on the peripheral of your vision or hearing. Alice and Ethan like to make sure you're paying attention and from album opener 'Plague', to closing track 'Child I Will Hurt You' you get a sense of the world you're entering in to upon hitting play.

www.crystalcastles.com

As a duo they're as complementary as Simon & Garfunkel, Paul and John and pie and mash. Ethan's sometimes subdued and pulsing, sometimes distorted and peaking music is the perfect accompaniment to Alice Glass's shrieking soul. At once trapped and racing, her vocals wouldn't be out of place in the dungeons of a medieval torture house but they work with the music to deliver melody as good as any well crafted, perfectly sung pop song. 

Early Crystal Castles was reminiscent of playing space invaders at 4am in a dark room whilst on mood elevating chemicals. (III) retains this energy however twists the dial from goth-pop-witch-tech, to something far deeper, fuller and all surrounding. Playing early CC on full blast may have put you in mind of an epileptic Robot where as close your eyes whilst listening to (III) and you could be standing in a cathedral of the future with epic noise resounding hugely, pulling your senses to the spire of exultation.

Definitely worth a listen and should by rights bring the Canadian two to fame and fortune. Order via their website