Saturday, June 22, 2024

wrongbar, toronto, february 21, 2008.





crystal castles bring it home

the cyber-punk duo spark a hogtown grindathon. awaiting a set from local heroes crystal castles, fans were content to thrash out their anticipation in a sweaty cluster of keffiyahs and kanye shades last night at toronto's wrongbar until the puckish duo took the stage. frontwoman alice glass, looking like a black-rimmed jd salinger heroine viciously attacked by karen o in a dark closet, demurely vogued to the hard-edged beats of mix master ethan kath, who remained hunched over his atari-pimped synthesizer (a 5200 chip is encased inside) throughout the set. both sported his and her leathers, and emanated a mysterious resilience.

a live drummer added weighted professionalism to the frenetic burn of bangers "no skin," "air war," and myspace slam-dunk "alice practice," as a constant pounce of strobe lights induced electric synesthesia (or maybe it was just the flash of all those photo bloggers). but it was latest single "crimewave," off the band’s yet-to-be titled forthcoming last gang debut that defined their noir-slick sonic. like an abba-tinged pulsation remixed with l.a. scenesters health, crystal castles delivered never-ending glossy noise combustions, always in search of the next nintendo power-up.

text by chandler levack, spin magazine

photo by daniel epstein


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