photo by FRICTION NYC
Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s featured selection, chosen by Morning Show host John Richards, is Vanished
by Crystal Castles from the 2008 self-titled album on Last Gang Records.
Over the past year Toronto’s Crystal Castles, consisting of Alice Glass (vocals) and Ethan Kath (multi-instrumentalist), have gained as much recognition for remixing the work of others as for their own material. They’ve taken on tracks from Bloc Party, Klaxons and the more familiar collaboration with LA’s HEALTH on Crimewave.
Their recently released debut album is likely to put the focus back where it belongs. With Kath injecting Atari chips into his keyboard and Glass shape-shifting between nu-rave songstress and a chop shop chanteuse, the likelihood of your focus erring is slim to none. The last time CCs were scheduled to come through Seattle they pulled out due to Glass being hit by a car. But it takes more than a few cracked ribs to stop Glass from being the life of the party. They’re currently raving across Europe, primarily the UK, through the end of May, and just recently performed the sold-out, KEXP sponsored showcase curated by FRICTION NYC. Here’s the song that started the hype, Alice Practice
(originally just Alice practicing), captured in all its strobe light glory:
