Crystal Castles
 | |
| Type | Experimental electronic band[1][2] |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2003[1][2] |
| Founder | Ethan Kath[1][2] |
| Location | Toronto, Ontario, Canada[1][2] |
Crystal Castles was an experimental electronic band formed in 2003 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The project was initially built around producer Ethan Kath and vocalist Alice Glass; after Glass left in 2014, it continued with vocalist Edith Frances. The band's documented releases span 2008 through 2016. Its sound was described as lo-fi and melancholic, while its live shows were characterized as explosive.[1][2]
History
Crystal Castles began as a solo project initiated by Kath in December 2003. He later met Glass, who recorded vocals for several of his instrumentals in 2005. The duo's early releases included the single "Alice Practice", which received a limited vinyl release in 2006. The circumstances of the recording's origin are disputed in later accounts, so the conflicting microphone-test story is not treated as settled here.[1][2]
The name Crystal Castles is drawn from lyrics in the theme song for She-Ra's fortress.[1][2]
Music and releases
The self-titled debut album was released on 18 March 2008. The second album, Crystal Castles (II), followed on 23 April 2010, and (III) was released on 21 November 2012. The band's chart history includes both albums.[3][1][2]
The group issued the non-album single "Not In Love" in late 2010, featuring Robert Smith of The Cure. Amnesty (I) was released on 19 August 2016.[2][1]
Lineup and live work
The band toured in the United States and internationally in 2010, including appearances at Reading and Leeds Festivals, Glastonbury Festival and Big Day Out. It was also credited with commissioned remixes for Bloc Party and Klaxons.[1][2]
Glass announced her departure in October 2014. Later material identifies Frances as the vocalist who continued the project with Kath and places the group through at least 2016. The supplied sources do not establish a formal dissolution date, and their listings differ on the band's endpoint; this article therefore does not assert one.[1][2]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 "Crystal Castles artist profile". AAE Music. Retrieved 2026-09-21.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 "Crystal Castles hometown, lineup, biography". Last.fm. Retrieved 2026-09-21.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Crystal Castles". Billboard. Retrieved 2026-09-21.