Porta's Listen!...Crystal Fighters - Star Of Love (2010)

"Basquetronica!"

Crystal Fighters
Star Of Love (2010)
band formed in garage.

Star of Love is not only an impressive full-length debut from Spanish (by way of London) “folktronic” group Crystal Fighters, but it’s extremely well-crafted; the superb sequencing and the crisp, sparkling production allow the quartet and their wide-ranging ideas to shine. Where they might have blurred genre boundaries into a messy pastiche without a narrative, Star of Love blooms like a bud captured in slow motion, morphing from one stage to the next with utter grace. Traditionally Basque instruments (the percussive txlaparta, which is comprised of wooden blocks, plus acoustic guitars, woodwinds, tambourines) give way to electro-clash and dubstep flavors (synths, reverb, heavy bass, vocal chants), while on some tunes a hip-hop soul is palpable. The group’s singles, including their smash club-hit “I Love London” are not the only stars here; “I Do This Everyday” is a relentless, M.I.A-like stomper that will put your Zumba routine to shame, while the acoustic twitterings of “Plage” and “At Home” are as lovely as a summer frolic in an Alpine meadow. Basquetronica? Sure. Why not?

The London outfit’s debut is as colourful as the album cover, the five-piece fusing the Basque instrumentation with the feverish bass of any electro outfit. It's an album comprised of an intriguing mix of Basque folk music with electronic elements. In truth though, there's very little blending going on; instead it's more of a tale of two differing types of music that somehow ended up on the same record. So far, so brave.

Solar System:
With the bass whacked up to 10 on this record and fast intence drumming this track gets the whole crowd on the dance-floor moving and shaking their bones out of their bodies! Fast pace and furious in spots they seem to have got the Klaxons edge but with a Spanish folk twist.
Out of 10: 8/10

Xtatic Truth:
Starts off with a very different feel, a lovely acoustic Spanish guitar, hush vocals come in, fast drumming and beats flow in too... then WHAM, the chorus, everything drops, then it goes into a melee of madness with the beats from the laptop playing a big part in making this track sound massive!
Out of 10: 7/10

I Do This Everyday:
...is more of the track you would associate their sound according to the myspace description, folk and electro. Different main singer this time, and also with a harder rock influence and more of the brilliant guitar work and laptop twiddly bits. This track (I assume) would be better on drugs, maybe weed, but I don't condone that do I!
Out of 10: 7/10

Champion Sound:
Now on the internet this track has 3 names, Champion Sound (Luke Smith Mix), Champion Sound (Alt Version) and Champion Sound. Now they are all the same song. This is a lovely track with the folk influence coming up trumps here as this is a nice diversion from the madness and brilliant heavy electro feel from the past 3 songs. This continetal feel makes the listener feel like it is a nice hot day in Europe, just lovely.
Out of 10: 9/10



Plage:
French for Beach, basically he sings about going down to the beach with his girlfriend in the early morning. Once again (as Champion Sound) this is a very summery song. Better? Debatable, but they do continue the odd instrument playing throughout as they use wooden bricks(?) and beat them to the sound of the calming vocals.
Out of 10: 8/10

In The Summer:
The biggest track I heard of them so far, such a summer banger, shame they are only getting noticed for the Foals support slots now. But still, if you were one of the lucky ones and got the 12" before they were big, good for you, because this would sound epic trough your speakers with that nice crackle from vinyl players. Also it is back to the electro-esque musical styling that got me into them.
Out of 10: 9/10



At Home:
The longest track on the album, but honestly I want it to go on forever. From the outset this track invites you in with the folk-electro-crossover sound that I now feel at home with. Once again it is the female vocal making the track what it is, a lovely sexy voice loses your mind when she is standing in front of you all sleek and (hmm) yea! I know I am keep on going on about this but the summer feel is the biggest it has been on this track, paradise!
Out of 10: 9/10

I Love London:
Another frenetic beat driven affair, but this time with a grittier punk club influence (or perhaps “Basque-tronica”). This track is getting a wealth of air time on radio due to the absolute bass driven and almost touristy song... Crystal Fighters seamlessly blend guitar led folk rhythms with pulsating tribal dance music and an eclectic mix of both male and female vocals.
Out of 10: 7/10



Swallow:
Now with the Jamaican feel, (yes Jamaican) to the start of this song you are lulled into thinking it is going to be one of the slower tracks. Wait, nope, wrong. The dubstep beat kicks in and you are treated with a brilliant side of folk... dubstep! But normally I would hate listening to dubstep but they make this song effortlessly brilliant.
Out of 10: 9/10



With You:
Frantic opening and more of the lovely female vocals make this seem like a top 4o track. Thankfully they haven't sold out yet. As the bridge suggests, they like to keep that folk element in their music.
Out of 10: 7/10

Follow:
The ending to the album, and this track just combines what they have been all about in the album, folk mashed with electro and catchy lyrics. A furious chorus and the song just keeps on building and building. What a way to end the album of what has been the most fun to listen to so far this year.
Out of 10: 9/10

Crystal Fighters - Star Of Love
Out of 10: 8.8/10

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