Crystal Castles

Another retrospect review - a tough one. About a year ago, Crystal Castles very much impressed with their particular performance. Still when I try to put the music into perspective, it gets a bit harder to rate this ... Gig? Performance? Dance Party? Whatever ...

Buddies: David Z., Michael M.-W.
Score: 4 out of 5
Merchandize: nope
Another gig? Another tough question :-)



Probably it's exactly how it should be. Crystal Castles perform literally. In everything they are doing, they somehow refuse to be categorized. Nearly all of their public statements end up in negation. So what can I say of this night?

• Us three were probably the oldest guys in the room. Even worse than at the Frittenbude gig. In other words: The crowd was really young and really enthusiastic. If you watch my video clips closely, you can even spot a Devil's Horn - hahahaha. From this perspective, a perfect gig.
• The music: All synths from Ethan Kath are canned music, add a live drummer and - of course - Alice Glass. The way she, and only she, communicates with the crowd (without directly looking at anybody). No single word, at least I do not remember any 'thank you', but nobody expects this from Crystal Castles.
• The visuals, all these stroboscopes of course add to the overall atmosphere. But that's not decisive, as shown on YouTube in a very impressive way - Crystal Castles also function at bright daylight.

 A potpourri of the gig (HD available by switching below):

This combination is so strange yet powerful and above all very distinctive. Crystal Castles is a perfect example of today's digital/remix culture that takes from everywhere and mixes it into something special. It's the peculiar combination of elements, exactly brought to the point. My short video clips which give some hints of what this was all about. Yes, "this" whatever you may call it, is a strong artistic statement, not necessary a gig you're used to, but definitely worth to be seen live! And if I may argue one thing about the music, it had some lengths, and at the end it's probably only live music to me. Yet already the opener "Plague", which is still my favorite of this band, made my day.

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