Crystal Castles - Self Titled (Different) CD/LP
There's two types of music in this world good and bad……or music you like and music you don’t like. My disappointment with the last Burial album was directly in proportion with the hype it received….it isn’t THAT good. But had it snuck out on a small label to no fanfare, I may have enjoyed it for what it was. The opposite is true of this record. Everyone I have spoken to has baulked and mocked when I mention it but have they actually listened to it?
Yes,there are examples of annoying Game Boy sounds/shouty vocals and Artrocker style Electronica but dig a little deeper and there are some wonderful examples of catchy, immediate and hugely listenable electronic music. At times it reminds me of a young Aphex Twin recreating the melodies of ‘Geodaddi’ era Boards of Canada, hugely melodic and tuneful and it hasn’t become annoying, yet. So, ignore the hype and give it a chance. I could be on my own with this but I’m perfectly happy if that is the case and I’ll just have to put up with being the only person with non - asymmetrical hair when they bring their live extravaganza to Leeds.
6/10
Adam Roberts