The Crystal Method are legends in the DJ/Club/Techno/Electronica scene having formed in Los Angeles in the early 90’s and had early club hits Now is the Time and Keep Hope Alive. They proceeded to release three studio records and a number of mix compilations as well as touring across the world.
They have just released their newest Album, Divided by Night, and are touring for the first time in five years to celebrate the release. I was lucky enough to attend one of their shows in Montreal, Canada and it was amazing. The new album has hit store shelves and is both somewhat new and familiar to fans of the duo.
The Crystal Method is Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland, friends who have been collaborating for over 20 years and the tightness of their music reflects this. This album has a great deal of artist collaboration with artists from all types of genres. We have the Jewish reggae singer Matisyahu, alt-folk singer Meiko, hip-hop emcee Justin Warfield and indie rock singer Emily Haines among many others.
The interesting thing about the collaborations on this album is that each artist worked on and co-wrote the songs they participated in. The result is an album that has expertly mixed Electronica tracks overlaid with vocals that suit the mix.
The album starts with the excellent high energy track "Divided by Night." This song has beats and mixes that force you to move and eagerly await the next song. "Dirty Thirty" is one of the weaker tracks but is immediately followed by the amazing first video single, "Drown in the Now." Featuring the prominent reggae singer Matisyahu this track is pure magic and the video is outstanding.
The vibe keeps going with "Kling to the Wreckage" and my favorite on the album, "Sine Language." This features an artist who I initially sneered at due to their name (LMFAO…I know) but he is an excellent rapper and his vocals are perfectly suited to The Crystal Methods music on this track.
Article comments
1 - Josh
This album is unexpectedly fresh and diverse. Sine Language is my favourite track. "You a Packman Bitch on an old Atari, we Grand Theft Auto with a hot Ferrari."
2 - Matt
I found this album to be a lot slower in tempo than most of CM's previous two albums. I can put Tweekend or Legion of Boom in the car sound system and get a real buzz out of it. But with Divided By Night, I put the cd in, and its slower and darker and the buzz isnt there. There's more mainstream 'pop' to it, and the awesome breakbeats of the previous albums are sadly lacking. Some of the tracks have an almost rastafarian pop sort of thing going on, which isnt my thing. If Legion Of Boom was a soundtrack to listen to while driving a Ferrari on the edge, then Divided By Night is for cruising to work in your Honda Civic. The rush just isnt there.