Vatican – Bugs

• 25th Apr 2008

We are approaching a time now were making music sounding like retro computer games is subsiding, thank god. But knob twiddling, button pressing Cyrstal Castles seemed to have not only survived the fickle industries backlash, but emerged as forerunners from a number of promising young acts blossoming at the moment. I admittedly was one of the people, who immediately pigeonholed them amongst a mass of ’New Rave’ acts, that seemed to come creeping out of the woodwork all at the same time. I had half listened to early singles, and disregarded them without paying too much attention; An act which can all to be easily done when one is prejudice about genres. I still am and almost always have been, unable to see the appeal in dance/techno/house music that many people see. But from only four songs in, it’s quite easy to see why Crystal Castles have stayed ahead of the rest, there is a real subtle intelligence to their work, that radiates through the crisp production. Songs like ’Xxzxcuzx Me’, although drowned in an array of digital trickery and bleeps, actually possesses a real Punk undertone, as Alice screams her distorted vocals. And as the album develops it’s apparent that the band have transcended that fickle scene, and in doing so, actually made me realise why they have been so swamped with praise. I think what’s testament to this album, is that it shows people like myself who wouldn’t normally buy or listen to this record the ability to make you see straight through the narrow-mindedness so often associated with certain genres, and the narrow-mindedness we all often possess. What also is striking about this record is the freshness and originality that seeps from it. It flows majestically, and the production levels create a warm, rich texture that seem to accompany the not so textured sounds to excellent affect. I was actually dreading sitting down to sixteen tracks of dance music to review, but what I had predicted to be a chore, was actually a surprising pleasure. Crystal Castles seemed to have mastered the technique of merging up and down tempo into a seamless flow of energy, that becomes this record. It never really dips or falls. And songs like ‘1991’ just seem to ooze effortlessness, as it sails by onto the next effortless number. It appears to me that bands like this don’t crop up that often, they have taken a plentiful amount of genres and condensed them into their own fusion. It’s clear to see from any real perspective, regardless of preference that Crystal Castles have produced, and original, innovative and thought provoking debut, worthy of many accolades.