Crystal Fighters on Basque folk music, Kitsuné and being 'mental'

Crystal Fighters on Basque folk music, Kitsuné and being 'mental'

18 November, 2009
by: Nuria

I'm introduced to the three members of London band Crystal Fighters outside the Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen, where they're due to perform later on as part of Levi's Ones To Watch concert series. Gilbert, Sebastian and Graham have made quite a splash in 2009 thanks to two official single releases on Kitsuné ('Xtatic Truth', back in May, and 'I Love London', launched tonight) and a relentless dedication to gigging. It's particularly the latter that's won them a solid following in London and beyond, their name having appeared on enough flyers throughout the year to dispel any confusion between them and that other (very different) electronic outfit, Crystal Castles.

Part of what has especially piqued the media's curiosity is the choice to incorporate traditional Basque instruments into their frenetic brand of dance music, not to mention their insistence on listing Navarra as their hometown on their MySpace page. In fact, Gilbert and Sebastian are born-and-bred Londoners, while Graham is American (I really should've suspected the unlikelihood of cool, edgy electronic music actually coming out of my home country).

Sitting at an outdoor table despite a chill in the air, I ask the three laidback guys about their purposefully misreported origins – is it a publicity gimmick or a joke? It's actually conceptual, I'm told, as Crystal Fighters is less of a self-standing band and more of a collaborative project. The idea emerged from a mutual friend's discovery of an old notebook belonging to her late Basque grandfather. Gilbert, Sebastian and Graham, who were all making music under different guises at the time, decided to use the contents ('operatic prose and bits of music') as the 'starting point and inspiration' for Crystal Fighters.

They proceeded to research Basque culture and musical traditions, which led to experimentation with different sounds and arrangements. Many of their songs use a txalaparta, for example, a wooden xylophone-like percussion instrument played by two people standing face-to-face. Gilbert reflects for a second and suggests that it's almost like they're 'bringing something back to life', since folk music doesn't form part of mainstream modern-day Basque life. Graham chimes in with the observation that they're 'exposing the gems' of a culture that has an 'eerie and mysterious vibe.' In terms of their reception in Basque cities like Bilbao, all three are emphatic that it has been 'amazing' because the audience have a deeper appreciation of their intent.

This use of folk instruments has led to the band being labelled as 'folktronic', which Sebastian concedes is technically correct since they combine folk instruments with an electronic base. But they also point out that the album that's currently in the works (which probably won't be released until early 2010) encompasses numerous styles and defies clear-cut classification. I try to get more details on this oeuvre-in-progress, but the band want to talk about new single 'I Love London', an energetic electro-romp featuring a cowbell and kooky vocals by a guest singer named Mimi.

How did they manage to get Kitsuné interested? 'Through our manager,' explains Gilbert, adding that they're ecstatic about being signed onto the trendy French label. The 12” of 'I Love London' includes remixes from other up-and-coming artists such as Two Door Cinema Club, whom Gilbert affectionately dubs 'Kitsuné's latest darlings'. But despite securing inclusion on both a Kitsuné and an Annie Mac compilation, it's not so much distinct songs as a memorable live show that has led to increased recognition.

I mention that a friend of mine described them as 'mental' – in a complimentary way, of course. 'Well, none of us needs to be institutionalised!' replies Gilbert mock-defensively before noting that 'perhaps we're a little softer on record.' Graham explains that they're fans of 'raucous live acts', while Sebastian notes that they enjoy creating 'dancier, big-room versions' of tracks.

Indeed, a mere two hours later, when they take to the stage in the massively overcrowded club area of the Hoxton Square Bar & Grill, I evidence exactly what they mean. Graham, on guitar, is shirtless, as is Gilbert, who's standing in the back between a mixing desk and an authentic txalaparta. Sebastian, gripping a mic stand, looks like a befitting frontman in his grungy shirt and skinny jeans. The crowd is riled up and ready to be wowed.

The show seems to go by in a flash, albeit not without leaving a lasting impression. Crystal Fighters' songs are manic three-minute parcels of kinetic energy, full of up-tempo surges and heavy dance segments. Not once do the guys stand still. The crowd is a mix of East London creative types and European hipsters, adequately mirroring the band's influences (they live in Hackney, after all).

During the infectious 'Xtatic Truth', Sebastian delivers the vocals in a mock-Spanish accent, true to the recorded version. Out of context, I would deride such an affectation as silly, but as Gilbert pointed out during our interview, the whole thing is, in essence, a fictional construct. I'm driven to agree with his assertion, thus, that 'onstage you have to be bigger than yourself.' And these three guys definitely are.

'I Love London' – which Gilbert cheekily suggested could become Spoonfed's theme song – is out now on Kitsuné. The band play Fabric as part of Kill 'Em All on 11 December.

Photo copyright: Rod.H

Click here for all live music in London.
Click here for all events in Hoxton.
Click here for all things to do in London.

Nuria