Crystal Castles

For the past three weeks on my daily walk to class, I have been tortured by a poster. This poster is brightly-coloured and has on it the dates and names of upcoming artists and DJs playing at one of Toronto’s premier nightclubs CiRCA. Yet there’s one date and name on that poster that is particularly taunting, and every day I have to look at it on my way to my journalism labs and politics lectures.

OCT. 24TH – CRYSTAL CASTLES

Usually, I’m happy about my age. I mean there are enough all-ages shows here in Toronto to choose from to keep me contented, and I know enough people to buy the “substances” that being 18 does not permit me to. However, every so often, there is a show that makes me wish I was just one year older. My friends, this is that show.

Love them or hate them (there’s really no middle ground with C.C.), there’s no denying that the duo of Alice Glass and Ethan Kath have been become a fixture on the international electronic circuit, with their unique brand of glitchy synth thrash (which they describe as being influenced by “murder, blank looks on girls and knives”) and reputation for chaotic live shows. When I first listened to the band’s self-titled debut album, I said to myself, “this sounds like the soundtrack to a video game”, but the album quickly grew on me. If you’re 19 or older and I haven’t convinced you to go to this show, please check this out. Also on the bill are Lymbyc System, which you can check out here. Please guys, do it for me.

While I’m on the subject of synth thrash and electronic, I’d also like to recommend a trio of artists. One is a Parisian that goes by the comic book-influenced identity of The Toxic Avenger and like any good electro artist from France’s capital, he perfers to hide his face behind a mask a la Daft Punk. Also from France, is Sexual Earthquake In Kobe (great name huh?), a more post-punk influenced trio that have a song inspired by an actress in that TV series Big Love (you know the one about the Mormon family in Utah). For real, it’s called“Love With Chloe Sevigny” and it’s completely awesome. Finally closer to home, we have Crystal Antlers from Long Beach, California, who have been getting a lot of love from the blogs and music magazines recently – and for good reason to – the song “Until The Sun Dies (Part 2)” is particularly good.

In other Justice-related news, if you haven’t heard the duo’s stellar new 18-minute (!!!) long single“Planisphere” mixed exclusively for Dior Homme’s Spring/Summer 2009(except Dior Homme is French, so it’s actually “Printemps-ete 09″) runway show, you can listen to it here.

Well considering I have two quizzes in class tomorrow and it’s now 2 in the morning, I had best call it a night. Have a good weekend everybody, and I’ll see you back on here on Monday.

Cheers,
Max