Currently comprised of founding member Ethan Kath (production, songwriting) and Edith Frances (vocals), Toronto, ON-based electronic music act Crystal Castles can trace their origins to when its founding member Kath started the project as a solo recording project back in 2003. With the release of the electronic music project’s first two singles, “Magic Spells” and “Untrust Us” Kath began receiving attention across the blogosphere and from labels. And by 2006, Kath began a fruitful collaboration with vocalist Alice Glass that started with the project’s first physical EP and continued through their first three critically applauded and commercially successful albums; in fact, thanks to “Not In Love” featuring The Cure‘s Robert Smith, the duo’s sophomore effort II landed on the Billboard 200 and the band’s third album III was Tumblr’s and Hype Machine‘s number 1 album of 2012.
Citing personal and professional reasons, Glass left the project in 2014. Last year, Kath announced that he had recruited Edith Frances to take up vocal duties — and that he and Frances had started working on a new album. “Concrete,” the latest single off the forthcoming album manages to be tense and propulsive as Kath’s production, which consists of layers of undulating synth stabs, propulsive drum beats, malevolent atmospherics and industrial clang and clatter are paired with Frances’ heavily distorted vocals. And while bleak and murky, the song manages to be dance floor friendly — thanks to an anthemic hook.
Shot in a dark, strobe-lit sweaty nightclub/concert venue, the recently released video for the song follows a woman as she loses herself in the crowd, along with her fellow fans.
The duo will be embarking on a lengthy international tour, beginning in September and it includes an October 6 set at Warsaw.
Tour dates:
06-Sep US, Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle
08-Sep US, Atlanta, GA The Loft, US
09-Sep US, New Orleans, LA One Eyed Jacks,
10-Sep US, Houston, TX White Oak Music Hall Downstairs
13-Sep US, Dallas, TX Trees
14-Sep US, Austin, TX Empire Garage
16-Sep US, Phoenix, AZ The Pressroom
17-Sep US, San Diego, CA The Observatory North Park
21-Sep US, San Francisco, CA Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
22-Sep US, Santa Ana, CA The Observatory
23-Sep US, Los Angeles, CA The Fonda Theatre
23-25-Sep US, Las Vegas, NV Life Is Beautiful Festival
27-Sep US, Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge
28-Sep US, Denver, CO Bluebird Theater
30-Sep US, Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theater
01-Oct US, Chicago, IL Metro
02-Oct US, Detroit, MI Majestic Theatre
06-Oct US, Brooklyn, NY Warsaw
07-Oct US, Philadelphia, PA Theatre of Living Arts
08-Oct US, Washington DC Black Cat
09-Oct US, Cambridge, MA The Sinclair
11-Oct Canada, Montreal, QC Theatre Fairmount
12-Oct Canada, Toronto, ON The Hoxton
20-Oct Germany, Frankfurt, Zoom
22-Oct Netherlands, Amsterdam, Melkweg
24-Oct Denmark, Copenhagen, Vega
25-Oct Sweden, Malmo Kulturbolaget
26-Oct Norway, Oslo, Sentrum Scene
28-Oct Sweden, Stockholm, Debaserstrand
29-Oct Denmark, Aarhus, Voxhall
31-Oct Germany, Berlin, Columbia Theatre
01-Nov Germany, Hamburg, Uebel & Gefaehrlich
02-Nov Germany, Cologne, Essigfabrik
05-Nov Ireland, Dublin, Metropolis Festival
26-Nov Singapore, Neon Lights Festival
27-Nov Hong Kong, Clockenflap Festival
02-Dec France, Paris, Elysee Montmartre
03-Dec France, Bordeaux, Krakatoa
05-Dec Spain, Bilbao Kafe Antrokia
07-Dec Portugal, Oporto, Hard Club
08-Dec Portugal, Lisbon , Paradise Garage
09-Dec Spain, Madrid, Teatro Barcelo
10-Dec Spain, Barcelona, Apolo
12-Dec Italy, Bologna Zona Roveri
13-Dec Italy, Milan Fabrirque
14-Dec Switzerland, Zurich, X-tra Limmithaus
15-Dec Luxembourg, Den Atelier