While foraging through the dusty, discarded possessions of her deceased grandfather somewhere in the Basque region of Spain; an inquisitive young girl discovered some of the remnants of the reclusive old man’s former greatness. She chanced upon an unfinished Opera entitled ‘Crystal Fighters’, apparently penned during the breakdown of his mental health. The faded manuscript and the prophetic prose contained within, quickly became an all encompassing obsession and later the moniker of an astonishingly interesting musical collective…
Crystal Fighters formed when singer Laure (acquirer of the manuscript) moved to London and shared the inspirational opera with friends Sebastian (lead vocals), Mimi (vocals), Graham (programming/ txalaparta) and Gilbert (synths, txalaparta) who now form the core of the group. The band merged in the hope of continuing the musical legacy, which pours from the pages of the opera, with the story constantly expanding as their music evolves.
Upon first listen, debut single ‘Xtatic Truth’ may not sound like the continuation of an elderly Spaniard’s operatic opus but delving deeper into the distinctive production techniques finds the profound influence of the cut short masterpiece alive and well. Musically influenced by the Antitodo movement (a 1980’s liberal Spanish Punk era that produced bands such as Eskorbuto), Crystal Fighters juxtapose the eerie flavour of traditional Basque folk music with churning bass lines and catchy energetic vocals, resulting in a jubilant and uplifting sound unlike any other. The track is also to be included on the latest of the French label’s Kitsuné Maison compilations, released in May. The single comes with remixes from Maybb, Magistrates and Renaissance Man.
Seeing the band live, the worlds of opera and folk collide with natural ease tied together by the inclusion of traditional Basque percussion behemoths Txalapartas (huge, stage dominating wooden beams) ruling over an uncompromising beat. The unrelenting intensity and passion of their act has seen them called up to headline shows for Durrr, Matter, The End, Secret Garden Festival and have also recorded a live session for Radio1 with the ever-eclectic Rob da Bank. Last year’s success was rewardingly rounded off with their ubiquitous online hit ‘I Love London’ voted into Mixmag’s Top 100 Records for 2008, the only unreleased record in the 100, crashing in ahead of the likes of Toddla T and Bloc Party (the track will be released through Kitsuné later this year).
The group currently live and rehearse together in the heart of London’s East end and plan to return to their spiritual home this summer to perform live at Basque annual traditional Summer Solstice Cave Rave, a historic celebration of the solstice and burning of witches. They’ll also be celebrating the release of the single with a launch party at London’s Old Blue Last.
The Crystal Fighters tale proceeds full speed with their ever expanding army of those drawn in by their never ending story as it develops…
Be sure to witness their live sets for yourself:
14 May 2009 THE GREAT ESCAPE Brighton
16 May 2009 XTATIC TRUTH SINGLE LAUNCH PARTY Old Blue Last, London
19 May 2009 PUREGROOVE INSTORE Farringdon, London
21 May 2009 STAG & DAGGER Shoreditch, London
28 May 2009 SYSTEM Mint Lounge, Manchester
13 Jun 2009 THEKLA MONKEY KNIFE FIGHT Bristol
Crystal Fighters launch new single'Xstatic Truth' at The Old Blue Last.
The unrelenting intensity and passion of their act has seen them called up to headline shows for Durrr, Matter, The End, Secret Garden Festival and have also recorded a live session for Radio1 with the ever-eclectic Rob da Bank. Last year’s success was rewardingly rounded off with their ubiquitous online hit ‘I Love London’ voted into Mixmag’s Top 100 Records for 2008, the only unreleased record in the 100, crashing in ahead of the likes of Toddla T and Bloc Party (the track will be released through Kitsuné later this year).
Crystal Fighters formed when singer Laure (acquirer of the manuscript) moved to London and shared the inspirational opera with friends Sebastian (lead vocals), Mimi (vocals), Graham (programming/ txalaparta) and Gilbert (synths, txalaparta) who now form the core of the group. The band merged in the hope of continuing the musical legacy, which pours from the pages of the opera, with the story constantly expanding as their music evolves.
Upon first listen, debut single ‘Xtatic Truth’ may not sound like the continuation of an elderly Spaniard’s operatic opus but delving deeper into the distinctive production techniques finds the profound influence of the cut short masterpiece alive and well. Musically influenced by the Antitodo movement (a 1980’s liberal Spanish Punk era that produced bands such as Eskorbuto), Crystal Fighters juxtapose the eerie flavour of traditional Basque folk music with churning bass lines and catchy energetic vocals, resulting in a jubilant and uplifting sound unlike any other. The track is also to be included on the latest of the French label’s Kitsuné Maison compilations, released in May. The single comes with remixes from Maybb, Magistrates and Renaissance Man.
Seeing the band live, the worlds of opera and folk collide with natural ease tied together by the inclusion of traditional Basque percussion behemoths Txalapartas (huge, stage dominating wooden beams) ruling over an uncompromising beat. The unrelenting intensity and passion of their act has seen them called up to headline shows for Durrr, Matter, The End, Secret Garden Festival and have also recorded a live session for Radio1 with the ever-eclectic Rob da Bank. Last year’s success was rewardingly rounded off with their ubiquitous online hit ‘I Love London’ voted into Mixmag’s Top 100 Records for 2008, the only unreleased record in the 100, crashing in ahead of the likes of Toddla T and Bloc Party (the track will be released through Kitsuné later this year).
The group currently live and rehearse together in the heart of London’s East end and plan to return to their spiritual home this summer to perform live at Basque annual traditional Summer Solstice Cave Rave, a historic celebration of the solstice and burning of witches. They’ll also be celebrating the release of the single with a launch party at London’s Old Blue Last.
The Crystal Fighters tale proceeds full speed with their ever expanding army of those drawn in by their never ending story as it develops…
Be sure to witness their live sets for yourself:
14 May 2009 THE GREAT ESCAPE Brighton
16 May 2009 XTATIC TRUTH SINGLE LAUNCH PARTY Old Blue Last, London
19 May 2009 PUREGROOVE INSTORE Farringdon, London
21 May 2009 STAG & DAGGER Shoreditch, London
28 May 2009 SYSTEM Mint Lounge, Manchester
13 Jun 2009 THEKLA MONKEY KNIFE FIGHT Bristol
Crystal Fighters launch new single'Xstatic Truth' at The Old Blue Last.
The unrelenting intensity and passion of their act has seen them called up to headline shows for Durrr, Matter, The End, Secret Garden Festival and have also recorded a live session for Radio1 with the ever-eclectic Rob da Bank. Last year’s success was rewardingly rounded off with their ubiquitous online hit ‘I Love London’ voted into Mixmag’s Top 100 Records for 2008, the only unreleased record in the 100, crashing in ahead of the likes of Toddla T and Bloc Party (the track will be released through Kitsuné later this year).
