England’s Crystal Fighters have been travelling the world with an eclectic mix of members from Great Britain and Basque Country, and just recently rang in the New Year performing at the Falls festivals,and will also play the Hi Fi in Sydney later this week.
Their latest release, Cave Rave featuring Triple J spun tracks “You And I” and “Wave”came together in just a few months when the band retreated to the Basque hills that they consider to be their spiritual home. Their music has always born traces of the local sound – traditional instruments like txalapartas and txistus vying in the mix with razor’s edge guitars and percolating techno synths. Using the Basque culture as a stepping stone backward to the spiritual and primal, this album draws deeper into universal, history-permeating themes of love, death, insanity and hope.
Considering their music is influenced just as much by traditional Basque music from the 18th century as s by modern-day clubland, we can think of no better London natives than the members of Crystal Fighters to give us a diverse and unique musical tour around their city. Take a look at the band’s favourite places to shop and check out music, as well as their favourite London acts.
Shop
Vinyl Pimp, 14 Felstead St, London E9 5LT Vinyl pimp Hackney Wick, the pimp owns a shop that buys and sells vinyl and the store is even cooler now my neighbour Simon Lynch has just opened up an amazing new modular synth shop inside Vinyl Pimp called London Modular. Hackney Wick in general is a great place to visit as was once reported to have the highest population of artists in the world… Also once famous for its sketchy squat raves, it is now a buzzing post-Olympic apocalyptic vista.
Hobgoblin Music, 24 Rathbone Pl, London W1T 1JA Hobgoblin Music on Rathbone Place is a charming little shop with all sorts of world music curiosities and one-offs. From a tin-whistle to a bagpipe you can find it all here, try it, buy it, and make rad music until a spirit appears.
Haggle Vinyl in Islington is a cool place to dig for secondhand vinyl oddities. I first discovered it when I used to make hip hop beats from vinyl samples and had a run-in about reggae with the famously cantankerous owner-patron. The vinyl is literally stacked everywhere, it feels like stepping back in time when you walk through the door.
Listen
Festival Season
Victoria Park – Field Day, Underage Festival (RIP), Lovebox, and an array of other awesome London festivals … it’s non-stop over there in the summer! We love playing there in our back yard, and the new skate park is next level.
This tiny little bar with an upstairs music venue is your Hoxton local pub. Head there for a classic slice of boozed-up Londonese fraternisation before your big trip at Herne Street Car Park (or equivalent) rave.
Passing Clouds is a great world music venue with plenty of attitude and culture to burn. Go here for real musicians, mind-bending conversation and a good underground vibration. Jam session on Sundays.
See
Ginglik, 1 Shepherd’s Bush Green, Shepherds Bush, Greater London W12 8PH
A strange venue to be found buried in the belly of Shepherd’s Bush roundabout in a converted public toilet. I once ran into Kevin Spacey having a drink down there, but it’s not a celebrity hangout spot, just a place to enjoy cool unpredictable curations of your evening.
All the greats have played Brixton, such an a great venue… go catch a show from an established but not-too-mainstream band if you are in town, and stare high above at the beautiful sky roof and feel at one with the universe.
Camden High Street Camden has long been the home of scuzzy rock’n’roll venues, head-shops and filthy take-away food, so even just being there is entertainment in itself. Head towards the canal for some relaxed live music and a vegan sandwich at Inspiral Cafe, or hit up The Underworld by the station in your studded jacket if there’s a punk all-dayer going on.
Thoughtful, wistful, brooding, beautiful music by the eight-legged, male and female-led AB. 2014 promises great things for them as they prepare to release their debut album so catch them while they’re hot to trot at venue near you in London before they disappear into the stratosphere.
Our great friends and associates Mount Kimbie currently killing it out there with their second full-length Cold Spring Less Faults. Really expanding and challenging the palette of EDM with style and grace.
Former indie squat darlings, now electronic pop pioneers, and our best friends on the London scene. Catch them live or DJing around the capital for a guaranteed good time.
Crystal Fighters play The Hi-Fi in Sydney this Thursday 9th January and we’re giving away a few passes to the show. Enter here.
