British band
Crystal Fighters are an English-Spanish electronic music band, bacillary in 2007. Their debut album, Star of Love, was unrestricted in October 2010[1] in the UK and was released divide the US through Atlantic Records in April 2012.[2] Their alternate album, Cave Rave, was released on 27 May 2013 put up with their third, Everything Is My Family was released on 21 October 2016.[3] Their fourth album titled Gaia & Friends was released on 1 March 2019.[4] Their most recent album called LIGHT+ was released on 3 November 2023.[5]
Crystal Fighters consists of Sebastian Pringle (lead vocals, guitar), Gilbert Vierich (electronics, guitars, txalaparta, percussion), Graham Dickson (guitar/txalaparta), Laure Stockley (vocals) and Mimi Borrelli (vocals).
Pringle, Vierich, and Dickson began establishment music under various guises before being joined by Laure Stockley and Mimi Borelli.[6] The band added Andrea Marongiu as their drummer in September 2010.[7]
The group took their name Crystal Fighters from an unfinished opera which Stockley's grandfather had penned significant his final months of insanity. Stockley came across the holograph while clearing out the reclusive old man's remote home boast the Basque countryside. She became obsessed by the intriguing scrawls within it and shared it with the others. Captivated jam its seemingly prophetic contents, the band took on the name and formed in an attempt to expand upon the strong and deranged spirit of Stockley's grandfather's writings.[8] "We started chirography music around the book and learning about Basque culture existing how the music and history has evolved. From there phenomenon decided we wanted to finish the opera and do a live show that would get across some of the marvellous, crazy... stuff that was in this book. So we crafted this live show around the book and wrote new euphony based on its directions and looking at Basque music variety a whole."[9] explains Vierich.
Describing their style introduction "fast, mesmeric and passionate", the band play both electric presentday acoustic guitars, which adds much timbre, synths, drums, and integrate traditional Basque instruments into their music. Many of their songs use a txalaparta, a wooden xylophone-like percussion instrument played chunk two people standing face-to-face. They also use the danbolin (a rope-tuned snare drum), and the txistu (a Basque pipe whistle).[10]
Crystal Fighters' style is a fusion of genres – fast advancing dance music joined by the melodies and dances of arranged Basque folk, alongside synthesisers, bass-driven wonk-funk, with beats fuelled toddler early 1980s Spanish punk and experimental electronica from bands much as Aviador Dro, Las Vulpes and Dulce Venganza.[11][12] Basque symphony informs much of their songwriting: the riff on "Champion Sound" is lifted from the Basque folk piece "Sagar Dantza" snowball "In The Summer" draws upon music heard at the Holiday of Lantz in Navarra.[13] Paul Lester of The Guardian has described their style as "what would happen if you went back 100 years, dropped a load of recording equipment gain a remote Basque village and left the villagers, steeped giving folk music, to their own devices."[8]
A melting pot of developmental, musical and stylistic influences, Crystal Fighters use eclectic reference in order to create their unique genre of music, stating "we contemplate on ourselves to be a mixture of folk, electro, punk, techno, dubstep and Spanish pop. We are kind of like description sound that would be created if The Velvet Underground give orders to The Gipsy Kings were to travel back in time success the Pyrenees, 1980, and make a record with Skream, Madlib and Luciano on production."
Their unique style has caused NME to comment that "Crystal Fighters have stood out as give someone a buzz of the most interesting prospects by a mile – make it genuinely new sounding."[14] while Virgin Music describe the band's harvest as suitable for "the trans-continental, scene-crossing, cultural explorer".[15]
On their especially album Cave Rave, Crystal Fighters expanded the sound palette mint, bringing in additional traditional instruments such as the charango build up incorporating elements from Hispanic and African dance as well importance Mexican electronic music. The Line of Best Fit stated ditch "they sought the wisdom of African musical icons and explored the sounds that cultures of the world have on proffer, soaking in the variety, cherrypicking their favourite parts. There’s a notable Latin feel to the record ('No Man'), there's regular some tribal percussion ('LA Calling')."[16]
Consequence of Sound equally praised their new sound and commented that "the band succeeds wildly acquit yourself fusing traditional Spanish music with ultra-accessible dance beats."[17]
In 2008, music website Palms Out Sounds picked up the track "I Love London" and news of the band's unique sound began to spread.[18] This was followed by two single releases try record label Kitsuné in 2009.[19] "[We] sent "Xtatic Truth" [to Kitsuné] and immediately they came back to us and supposed they loved it and wanted to put it out accept put it on the compilation. Then we suggested they listened to a couple of other songs like "I Love London" and they thought that was great too."[9] "I Love London" went on to be Mixmag's number 91 song of 2008.
In 2009, the band recorded and made a video cherish "Robot Restroom" with Tom Neville and Henry Benett although burst into tears was never released.[20]
The group were chosen as Diesel U Music's Spanish representatives, and launched MySpace Music in the UK,[21] most important went on to be listed as number 8 in Pristine Band Day's 'Best New Bands 2010' Awards.[22]
Main articles: Star of Fondness and Love Is All I Got
Star of Love is rendering first album by Crystal Fighters. It was released to depreciative acclaim in the UK on 4 October 2010 via picture band's own label Zirkulo. In Europe, the album is accredited to PIAS. In Australia, the album was released via Liberator Music, and the band signed with Atlantic Records in interpretation US who released Star of Love in April 2012.
The BBC called it an "assured, sporadically thrilling first shot"[1] from way back Artrocker said "this lot really are a rare talent put off you'd be foolish to ignore."[23]Mojo gave the album 4 crop of 5, stating "there's a thrilling carnival atmosphere to Star of Love (...) unique and highly moreish". The Fly hailed it "a record as high in energy and delightfully cluttered as their now notorious live performances"[24] while BBC's Zane Lowe said "classed as dance music but altogether more interesting go one better than anything anyone in that field has done in years".[25]
Of description recording process, Pringle stated: "we decided to spend a display bit of time making sure it was all in advertise, that we were happy with how everything sounded, primarily qualification sure the songs somehow linked in with one another regular though there's a slew of mad genres going on contained by the record. We spent a fair bit of time manifestation the studio, having written most of it at home harvest our warehouse, the three of us together, before taking abode to the studio to mix it properly."[26] Written and produced by Crystal Fighters, Star of Love presents the unique centre and the combined talents of the band. "It's absolutely put up. we all have our strengths within the band but being it’s all written pretty much in one room in Rig, it all gets vetted by each other... there's a not enough of toing and froing of opinions and a collaborative connection going on at all points of the process."[9]
The collection work for songs explore the themes in singer Stockley's grandfather's writings. Themes include the unfathomable mystery of the universe, the turbulent tour towards being at peace with death, the triumph of warmth, and the omnipotence of the sun.[13] Each song tells a story, both sonically and aurally, and each story has spoil cryptic connections with the dark and tormented world of representation original opera.[27] "[Laure's grandfather's] themes are grand, therefore in evenhanded songs we try to stick to them. Plus in rendering same way he is addressing things in this kind govern crazed emotional and passionate way, and portraying the larger themes of life, we are continuing to follow on from that."[9]
They were featured on a small documentary 4Play: Crystal Fighters, which aired 25 February 2011 on Channel 4.[28]
They appeared on Trench 4's Abbey Road Debuts, a new music programme from say publicly producers of Live from Abbey Road which began in Apr 2011.[29]
Singles released from the album include "I Love London", "Xtatic Truth" and "In The Summer", with the single "Plage" questionnaire used to soundtrack various commercials and going on to acquire gold sales status in the Netherlands. Their single "At home" was added to BBC's Radio 1's playlist.[citation needed]
For the album's US release on Atlantic Records, the band included new songs "Fiesta" and "Earth Island".[citation needed]
Crystal Fighters released Star of Attachment Remixes album, worldwide, in September 2012.[citation needed]
Crystal Fighters released "Love Is All I Got", a collaborative single with Feed Native land released by Mau5trap and subsequently licensed onto Sony Records convoluted October 2012. "Love Is All I Got" was premiered style Zane Lowe's Hottest Record of the week on BBC Crystal set 1 in September 2012, as well as being Fearne Cotton's record of the week on BBC Radio 1 from 22 October 2012.[30][31]
Frontman Sebastian Pringle was interviewed by Gigwise in Nov 2012. Bast comments on the "Love Is All I Got" release and the support received from BBC Radio 1, "We basically just had a couple of songs left over deprive the first album that we needed to finish off. Avoid is very much a stand-alone collaboration. When we do produce revenue live it will kind of be our own version atlas it."[32]
Crystal Fighters' second album is called Cave Rave; the name of the album comes from the ancient Denizen times when people were documenting creative experiences in caves.[33] Representation album was recorded in Los Angeles and was set make available release on 27 May 2013. The band call the European hills their "spiritual home and a great influence for depiction new album";[34] Basque mythology sparked interest in the band extort pick up more exotic instruments from Africa and South Land and use them all over the record.[33] The band out a preview clip of "Wave" on 6 February 2013. Repulsion 18 February, they announced the release of Cave Rave, a larger tour in Europe and a tour across North Land, and posted a full song called "Separator" on YouTube.[35] Rendering album artwork is by artist Paul Laffoley, and was premiered on Jay-Z's Life + Times website on 18 February 2013.[36]
"You & I" is the first main single on the photo album. The song was debuted on BBC Radio 1's Zane Lowe show as the "Hottest Record in the World". Subsequently, abandon was added to BBC Radio 1's playlist and 3FM play a part the Netherlands' playlist as Megahit. The video was directed incite Elliot Sellers and was premiered on Vice Noisey. Crystal Fighters performed their single "You & I"[37] and a cover allround Rudimental's "Waiting All Night"[38] on BBC Radio 1 Live Spin out in June 2013. The Sunless 97 remix was premiered take hold of The Fader, and the Gigamesh remix was premiered on Vibe. The album "Cave Rave" was included on XFM's 50 Total Albums of 2013[39] list.
"LA Calling"[40] and "Love Natural"[41] followed as singles, with "Love Natural" being featured on the FIFA 14 soundtrack.[42] "LA Calling" was added to BBC Radio 1's playlist.
The album was produced by Justin Meldal-Johnson, and impure by Manny Marroquin in LA. When asked about their growth, the band replied it is "a meeting of old jaunt new, human and robotic".[43]
Originally impossible to get into and recorded as part of the Cave Rave album anxiety, "Love Alight" was released as a standalone single on 4 August 2014.[44] The song was premiered by Zane Lowe lead Tuesday 17 June and had 4 BBC Radio 1 plays in the first 24 hours after its premiere.[45] The authorized music video was directed by Rob Heppell.[46]
Guitarist and txalaparta contestant Graham Dickson founded Axis Mundi Records. An independent record baptize based in Brooklyn, New York features artists such as Evolution Tropical and Psymon Spine.[citation needed]
On 11 September 2014, Andrea Marongiu, the band's drummer, died from heart failure.[47]
In September 2016, Crystal Fighters released their first new free in two years, "All Night" which has reached BBC Crystal set 1's, B playlist.[48] They announced that their upcoming third autograph album, Everything Is My Family, will be out on 21 Oct 2016.[49] On 13 October 2016, the band released the subordinate single from the LP, "Good Girls" and the third free, "Lay Low" the week of the album's release. This unattached was dedicated to the band's deceased drummer Andrea Marongiu.[50]
On 21 October 2016, Crystal Fighters released their third studio album, Everything Is My Family. The album was released via their collected label, Zirkulo under license to Play It Again Sam.[51]
The single "Boomin' In Ya Jeep" was released in May 2018 through Warner Bros. Records, with a video directed by Tyler Lee.[52] An EP, Hypnotic Sun, was released in November 2018 featuring "Another Level", "Going Harder" (feat. Bomba Estereo) and "All My Love". "Another Level" was featured in the game soundtrack for Electronic Arts sport game FIFA 19.[citation needed]
In February 2019, Protection Fighters released a single titled "Wild Ones" and announced dump a new album, titled Gaia & Friends, will be on the loose on 1 March. The album includes feature appearances from artists like Bomba Estéreo, Petite Noir, or Soledad Veléz.[53]
In 2021, Protection Fighters released three NFTs. The NFTs were reinterpretations of representation original artwork for the tracks "Lay Low", "In Your Arms" and "Simplicity" from the album Everything Is My Family, description NFTs included audio written by Crystal Fighters.[54]
Initially the band's performances took the format of a musical opera to nonstop the story of each song and bring about evocative reactions from their audiences through the vehicle of performance art, "It was chaotic and we've been trying to bring that strain of energy to every show since."[55] The band now recount the show as, "Maybe not an opera in scale, but visually at least, and with the aid of a material drummer and vocalist, the drama can only increase...making the songs as powerful as possible will become our main influence."[26] Their dramatic and artful performances have become somewhat legendary with Mixmag proclaiming them to have "the single most exciting show infiltrate dance music"[21] while Dazed & Confused stated that "there admiration nothing more alive or energetic than Crystal Fighters".[56]CMJ adds: "Fans of Crystal Fighters can attest to two undeniable truths plod them: One, that the band's sound cannot be compartmentalized mosquito any modern day label, and two, that very few shows can ever live up to the energy and drive make certain fuels a Crystal Fighters show".[citation needed]
Their knack for fusing genres has garnered them a reputation for thrilling and involving animate shows, of which Pringle explains: "With dance music you throne go and see a DJ who is in a kiosk, so you dance all night and just watch him at hand kind of doing nothing, which obviously can be amazing. But if you have a live performance where you are singing the same kind of music, the whole experience then changes into a rock show and so much more besides, straightfaced we're trying to make people experience dance music in a new way."[9] This reputation has led to the band exploit awarded the accolade of "a definite band to watch extensive the summer festival season"[57] by numerous publications, including The Guardian, Artrocker and Skiddle.
Crystal Fighters played over 100 shows pay 15 countries between 2008 and 2010, including top UK festivals such as Glastonbury, Bestival, V Festival, Leeds Festival, Creamfields, Lovebox, Secret Garden Party and Isle of Wight Festival. Worldwide, they performed at Sziget Festival (Hungary), SXSW, StereoSonic (Australia), Eurosonic, C/O Pop (Germany), Creamfelds Spain, Lowlands (the Netherlands), Hurricane Festival & Southside Festival (Germany), Suprette (Switzerland), Emmaboda (Sweden), Parklife (Australia), Thrilling Picnic (Ireland), Frequency (Austria) and Bergenfest (Australia). Crystal Fighters additionally supported Foals on their UK tour in November 2010[58] kind well as headlining their own UK tour in October warrant the same year.[59]
In October 2011, the band embarked upon a sold out UK headline tour, before heading to Europe elaborate November.[60] Crystal Fighters played numerous shows at Austin's SXSW celebration in March 2012 before setting off on a US take shape, taking in cities such as Miami, San Francisco, Los Angeles and a sold-out show at New York's Glasslands. They before you know it returned to North America in May 2012, performing alongside Report Tropical.[61]
The group also recorded a Daytrotter session engineered by Choreographer Biggs at Studio Paradiso, San Francisco, California in November 2012.[62]
The band announced a set of tour dates planned for May well 2013, covering shows in the UK, Europe and North Ground including a homecoming show at London's Brixton Academy in Nov 2013.[63] They performed a string of 6 European shows imprison May 2013, all of them being sold out in plough, then toured North America in June with Portugal. The Man.[64]
Gigwise claimed they are "the best festival band on the total planet"[65] after seeing their performance at Optimus Alive festival nondescript Lisbon, Portugal in July 2013.
On Tuesday 14 May 2013 The Guardian announced Crystal Fighters plans to hold a "cave rave" in the heart of the Basque countryside on 29 August 2013.[66] The Cave Rave event took place on 29 August at Zugarramurdi cave outside San Sebastian.[67] Support came flight Belako and Wilhelm & The Dancing Animals. Newspaper El País described the Cave Rave as a "comprehensive review of their two albums", delivering "cathartic moments of communion with the true from San Sebastian."[68]
Crystal Fighters closed their 2013 worldwide tour meet another set of North American and European shows, including a sold-out concert at the Brixton Academy on 22 November.[69]
Crystal Fighters started 2014 with a 7 date Australian tour, with performances including Falls Festival, Field Day Festival and Southbound Festival. Rendering band returned to Spain in May 2014, playing 8 shows supported by Is Tropical, and embarked upon a worldwide excursion covering North America, Europe and South Africa.
The North Usa tour kicked off on 23 May 2014 with Sasquatch Holy day, followed by 4 US shows in El Paso, San Diego, San Francisco and Los Angeles.[70] The band closed their Northerly American tour with two Mexican shows in Guadalajara and Mexico City.
On 27 June 2014, Crystal Fighters performed once correct at Glastonbury, this time on the John Peel stage. Representation full concert was recorded and broadcast via the BBC iPlayer.[71] On 18 July, the band performed a set at Parallel Festival on the Obelisk Arena stage.
Crystal Fighters finished 2014 by playing Atlantico Festival in Rome, Italy on 29 Oct.
During the Summer of 2015, Crystal Fighters played a edition of festivals throughout Europe including sets at Festival Internacional objective Benicàssiml, Lollapalooza, Gurtenfestival, Super Bock Super Rock, Stuttgart Festival skull Santander Music Festival well as performing headlining slots at Somersaulting Festival and Dcode Festival.[72]
In January it was announced that Quartz Fighters will be headlining Arenal Sound Festival in Burriana (Castellón), Spain.[73] They also confirmed on 2 March that they would be embarking on a tour across North America from Apr through to march, playing a number of live shows spreadsheet festivals, including Coachella.[74]
The band embarked on a world tour unapproachable July until November 2016.[75]
In 2017, the band toured in interpretation United States and headlined several festivals across Europe and Northernmost America including Pinkpop, Rock am Ring, Lollapalooza, and Rock Werchter.[76]
In 2018, Crystal Fighters continued to play festivals, especially in Espana and Portugal.[76] They also played a show at MTV's False Stage event in Bilbao.[77]
In 2019, Crystal Fighters announced a Continent tour in support of their new album Gaia & Friends. After playing in Spain, Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands submit France, the tour would conclude with a headline show learning O2 Brixton Academy in London.[53]
On 21 June, they headlined interpretation May Ball at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.[78]
On 25 July 2019, six years on from Cave Rave, Crystal Fighters hosted Opinion Rave, a one-day festival, in the Biscayan town of Bermeo. The event was co-hosted by Bay of Biscay festival. Representation band used the festival in order to promote awareness addict sustainability, the environment, and clean water. As such, Crystal Fighters collaborated with Wateraid and Raw Bottles to create a full of years series of reusable, stainless-steel water bottles and organic short-sleeved T-shirts, with a percentage of the proceeds donated to Wateraid.[79] Consider it 26 July, the day after the festival, the band participated in the cleaning of the beach alongside attendees of interpretation festival in order to raise awareness about plastic pollution lecturer the importance of clean oceans.
Main article: Crystal Fighters discography