規格外のスーパー・ポテンシャルをもった新人としてキツネ・メゾン・ファミリーに仲間入りしたバンド、CRYSTAL FIGHTERS。ファーストEP「Xtatic Truth」は、エスニックなストリングスのピッキングと全速力のダンス・ビートでフロアを駆け抜けるパンキッシュでエレクトロ、そしてどこかスぺーシー で無国籍という特異なサウンドは、Mixmagにおいても”Single most exciting live show in dance music”と賞され、CSSに続くインディーダンス・バンドとして、早くも来年の様々な野外フェスへの参加もささやかれている要チェックのニューカマー だ。
【Bio for Rhythm Droid】
Rhythm Droid とはDevon Hughes自身が手掛けるtechnoとelectronic funkのプロジェクトである。16歳の時から約12年に渡り、PCを使わずドラムマシンやシンセサイザーなどの機材のみを使用した楽曲制作をしてきた。 現在もクラブシーンでは彼ならではのスタイルを生かし、レコーディングされた音源などは一切使わない臨場感溢れるライブパフォーアンスでフロアを沸かして いる。都内では、WAREHOUSE702を始め、Club Asia、Le Baron de Paris、 Club Game、Rockwest、COLORS Studio、SECO Bar、 Loop、fai Aoyama、などで活躍。また、5月にリリースされた”Sunrise on Planet Tokyo” を収録した “mute city ep” は iTunes, Amazon, Juno Downloadなどにて発売中。 今後の更なる活に目が離せない。
Crystal Fighters live (Kitsune) Rhythm Droid Munoz ABC-Disksystem Eyama VJ: David Roy
We are very excited to announce the very first London Calling live, where we will be featuring the finest of the fast rising wave of live electronica bands currently blowing up in London’s underground. Making their Japan debut are Crystal Fighters heralded by Mixmag as “Single most exciting live show in dance music”. Also making his London Calling debut are Tokyo-based producer Rhythm Droid with an all-hardware, no-PC live set and eyama. New London Calling residents ABC-Disksystem and Stalwart Munoz complete what is an off the hook lineup. Get on board and hold on tight as its going to be a live one!
【Bio for Crystal Fighters (Kitsune)】
“We are Crystal Fighters. We make fast dance music with Basque instruments, synthesizers and our voices.”
Crystal Fighters juxtapose the eerie flavour of traditional Basque folk music with churning basslines and catchy energetic vocals, resulting in a jubilant and uplifting sound unlike any other.
They offer raved-up, percussive folktronica, veering from Fischerspooner-style euphoria to Animal Collective-toned delicacy, underpinned by a progressive contemporary London bass sound. Though their distinctive production techniques take in all this and more, Crystal Fighters draw a broader and more profound influence from the energy and wild liberty of the 80s Spanish/Basque ‘anti-todo’ youth movement and the songs of bands such as Eskorbuto, Sinistro Total and Golpes Bajos.
2008 saw the group take London by storm. Their unrelentingly raw, intense, and passionate live shows headlining Durrr, Dollop, Matter, Cargo, The End, Secret Garden Festival and beyond, and the group saw features in Dazed & Confused, FACT, Clash, Mixmag, iDJ magazine and a Radio 1 Live Session for Rob da Bank. The year was finally rounded up with their ubiquitous online hit ‘I Love London’ voted in 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.
“Xtatic Truth” will be released via KITSUNE in May and will be featured on the forthcoming Maison 7 compilation released 23rd May 2009.
“I Love London” will be released via KITSUNE later in the year.
【Bio for Rhythm Droid】
Rhythm Droid (Devon Hughes) has been producing machine funk for 10 years. His musical influences range all the way from Japanese pop to 70’s fusion, to straight-up Detroit techno and French Electro. Past performances include WAREHOUSE702, Le Baron de Paris, Club Asia, SECO, Rockwest, Game, COLORS Studio, fai, Loop, etc. He is currently rocking the Tokyo underground with an all-hardware, no-PC live set. These performances continue to push the boundaries of man-machine interaction in a club environment. Punchy chords, deep bass, dirty electronic beats, live.