If the words “chimney sweep” and “soul psychedelia” don’t go together in your mind, they just may after you take a listen to Crystal Antlers’ debut EP, the beguilingly titled EP which was release in the UK earlier this month via Touch and Go Records.
When the band formed in 2006, three of it’s members—including lead singer and bassist Jonny Bell—were in fact working as chimney sweeps and playing out constantly in Southern California. Getting dirty by day and by night, the band recorded two 7-inch singles before settling down to record this EP with the Mars Volta’s Ikey Owens.
When their label; Touch and Go, received a copy they were blown away by its swirling guitars, dramatic organ clamour, and relentless blending of influences ranging from cinematic psych to noisy soul punk, flooring the listener.
You’ll be happy to know that their will be an as-yet-untitled debut album on Touch and Go in April but, until then, the excitement mounts as the band confirm UK and Irish dates for early 2009!
26-Jan - London @ Luminaire
27-Jan - London @ The Lexington
28-Jan - London @ Club Uncut at Borderline w/ Delta Spirit
30-Jan - Glasgow @ ABC 2
31-Jan - Belfast @ The Pavillion
01-Feb - Galway @ Roisin Dubh
02-Feb - Dublin @ Whelans Upstairs
03-Feb - Cork @ The Whiskey
05-Feb - London @ Dirty Boots at Bloomsbury Bowling Alley
10-Mar - London @ White Heat
11-Mar - Sheffield @ The Harley
“If you hear anything more exciting this year, you’re lying.” NME
“A blast furnace, Ravenously reducing psych, garage [and] via their sheer sound and fury” Plan B