Back in 2008, a lot of heads turned to clock Crystal Stilts‘ Alight Of Night, their first album after a string of here-today-gone-tomorrow singles and EPs. It wasn’t exactly a surprise – Crystal Stilts felt like part of a new age dawning of underground collectives and random crazy groups who’d rediscovered the joys of noise-pop. They set about creating their own creations and there was something uniquely hermetic, yet gorgeous about the world they created.
With their new album, In Love With Oblivion, they stretch things further, still, honing their songcraft, indulging their more strung-out sides, full of elliptical verses and perfectly chiming guitars, cranky pop organs and the punkest of rhythms. A perfect blend of pop smarts and beguiling experiment.
Our Jam of the Day, “Shake The Shackles,” is a great snapshot of where the band is now. Driven by echoed guitars and droning keys. It’s a dexterous update of 60s garage pop that places it alongside late ’80s Paisley Underground heroes like Green On Red and later Dream Syndicate, but the song itself is totally timeless, and impossible to place anywhere but firmly in Crystal Stilts’ own unique style.
Give it a play below, and make sure to pick up the full LP when it hits the street April 12th.