News

Crystal Fighters Tour

• 18th Aug 2010

The new single from Crystal Fighters is the double A sided ‘Follow/Swallow’. Two of the highlights from their much anticipated debut album ‘Star Of Love’ out late September. As with every track on the album, these songs are interlinked and inspired by the opera written by their singer Laure’s grandfather, discovered by her in the old man’s house in the Basque region shortly after his death.

Originally one song – a relentless stream-of-consciousness that morphed from the grand melodic chant and medieval arpeggios of Swallow, into the incendiary rap-like flamenco explosion of Follow with no room for breathing. It was an inspired party piece, but the two songs soon found themselves in epic war with one other, setting up strange fortresses in opposite corners of the dancefloor.

Follow delves like few other dance tracks deep into a spiritual sibling-like love that has seen it all, and spoken of it all, and done it all together, and is celebrating this mad joy out loud on this huge euphoric end-of-summer anthem.

Swallow finds itself in a wholly different place- imagining that at a moment of chaotic threat it might be possible to internalize all emotion, to contain it within your body, and only release it in defiant song. The track is from a place in the soul where honesty is kept before it is violently and crudely distorted into speech. Musically Crystal Fighters represent this irresolvable battle between thought and expression by layering the solitary donk of the ttun ttun against a chorus of Spanish guitars for the verses; alongside a rollercoaster nightmare of modern bass, in a traditional melody for explosive of the choruses. A cryptic distorted proto-tradstep banger, one of the unmistakable highlights of the Fighters' now legendary live performances.

Jubilant and effervescent, Crystal Fighters’ unparalleled style is a magnetic fusion of genres – the melodies and dances of traditional Basque folk music find a joyous new lease of life amidst the band's swirl of lo-fi tropical electro and bass-driven wonk-funk, whilst beneath beats a heart fuelled by early 80s Spanish punk and experimental electronica from bands such as Aviador Dro, Las Vulpes and Dulce Venganza.

Crystal Fighters will be setting off on their October headline tour before supporting Foals on their autumn tour of the UK.

29/09/10 – Start the Bus, Bristol
30/09/10 – XOYO, London
01/10/10 – Nation Of Shopkeepers, Leeds
02/10/10 – The Plug, Sheffield
08/10/10 – HMV Institute, Birmingham
09/10/10 – Other Rooms, Newcastle
14/10/10 – “In the City” Manchester
15/10/10 – O2 Academy, Liverpool

06/11/10 – Rock City, Nottingham FOALS SUPPORT
07/11/10 – Guildhall, Southampton FOALS SUPPORT
08/11/10 – Brighton Dome, Brighton FOALS SUPPORT
10/11/10 – UAE, Norwich FOALS SUPPORT
11/11/10 – Lincoln Engine Shed, Lincoln FOALS SUPPORT
12/11/10 – Brixton Academy, London FOALS SUPPORT