++ALBUM++ review by Susie Wild
Susie Wild takes us undercover with the debut record from Crystal Castles - where she discovers misleading mellowness, references to dead lovers, and all sorts of sinister electro-riot goodness...
The eagerly awaited debut album from electro boy/girl duo Crystal Castles is here. Named after She-Ra's castle, the comic-book-couple have created an aural attack packed full of computer-game-Cassio sounds, shouty choruses, and starship shootouts.
Kicking off with the Super Mario Waltz and haunting babble of 'Untrust Us' and galactic noise explosion 'Alice Practise' the pair slow it down for dirty lo-fi 'Crimewave' and electro lullaby 'Magic Spells'.
"These mischievous 8-bit misfits will slay you with their viciously emotive music..."
Toronto's futuristic fruitcakes continue to yo-yo about from raging, hectic fucked-up-ness to cute, calm serenity. Like a rottweiler in a pretty pink bow, this newer, softer side is a disconcerting veil that we soon see through.
By endearing us with their gentler sounds the synth noise monsters engage us and then pull the fluffy rug from beneath our feet. Listen closer to apparent soother 'Courtship Dating' and the lyrics reveal a tale about taxidermy and the dead bodies of ex-lovers.
Like Christian Slater and Winona Ryder in Heathers, but with super powers, these mischievous 8-bit misfits will win you over and then slay you with their viciously emotive music.
You will lie, breathing your last, to the ethereally fuzzy dream of closer 'Tell Me What To Swallow' knowing the answer is Crystal Castles' bitter pill, with its smacky high and paranoid hug of a comedown.
++ Susie Wild ++
Artrocker rating: 4
The newest sounds as heard in the Artrocker Office and our Resonance FM podcast.
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