Crystal Castles

 
Crystal Castles is an electronic dance music group from Toronto. It consists of Alice Grass, the lead vocalist and Ethan Kath, the producer and mixer. The band came into existence in 2004 and has since then released a number of EPs featuring experimental music. Their tracks are largely lo-fi, which means they are recorded in home studios with little finesse. The duo’s live concerts are also similarly chaotic, creating a raw energy. With so many electronic songs hitting the popular airwaves these days, their music stands out in the genre as it is meant to be—untreated and not overproduced. To get a taste of the duo’s interesting blend, buy Crystal Castles tickets online.
 
The two have, over the years, released a lot of their music on vinyl. Their debut single “Alice Practice” can be found in the form as well. When the song was first released, they only made 300 copies. No other artist was attempting the kind of music that Crystal Castles was composing and so they were not sure of the kind of response they would receive. They would go onto include this song in their debut record of the same name in 2008. Other singles that made the track list were “Vanished” and “Air War”. The ones that received most airplay were “Crimewave” and “Courtship Dating”. The album was very well received, getting good reviews from critics. The album was also included at number 39 in a list of “Top 100 Greatest Albums of the Decade” published by NME. The magazine condones underground bands and artists, shunning popular music and what it stands for. Thus, because of this honor, they became quite influential as a group that lives an alternative lifestyle, sang about things that the others were not and experimented with music that was perhaps not as marketable as major labels would like. They released their sophomore record called “II” in 2010. This became their first album to be included in the “Billboard Hot 100”. It also consisted of their first global hit, “Not In Love”. This song was collaboration with The Cure’s Robert Smith. The album, much like their first one, also became a critics’ favorite, receiving rave reviews in all major magazines. Their latest album, III, was released in November of 2012. So far, they have put out three singles, “Affection”, “Plague” and “Wrath of God”. They are currently touring the country to promote the record, and Crystal Castles tickets are now on sale.
 
The duo first got together in 2004; a time when Alice Grass was only 15 years old. After listening to her sing, Ethan Kath felt as though he had discovered a poet. Grass however was singing for a band called “Fetus Fatale”. Still, Kath took her to the studio to test out how her voice would sit on the music that he had been composing for a long time. The sound engineer who was present in the studio at the time secretly recorded her voice onto the track. Kath would later on discover this recording, putting it up online as the song “Alice Practice” and the band name “Crystal Castles”. The group’s name was taken from the cartoon series “She-Ra”. Eventually, these recordings were discovered by other producers and listeners, and started to surely but surely gain popularity. Kath began to receive offers from different labels. At this point, Glass was not even aware that “Alice Practice” existed. After their initial meeting, the two had lost touch altogether. They only came together again when the track was officially released on vinyl through “Merok Records” in London, Ontario. Thus, Crystal Castles officially became a band.
 
Critics have described their sound as being ferocious and energetic, but flawed with glitches and bombasts. However, it is these almost two dimensional productions that give the band its signature sound. People have often described how their music is very close to trance, drifting away anyone who gives them a listen. Over the years, they have tried to put more finesse and clarity into their style, yet the white sound element that has made them popular remains consistent. With their latest record, they have gone back to basics. Kath has mentioned how before they went to the studio, they made a pact that they would use no computers on their songs. With this technique, they want their music to be like an experience for their fans, especially those who come to see them on their live shows.