On today's mix...
HEALTH - HEALTH (2007)
Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles (2008)

Given that the star player on Crystal Castles' full-length debut is their remix of "Crimewave" from HEALTH's full-length debut, I decided to pair up the eponymous albums for my run today.

HEALTH's debut is simple, assured, and effective. Placing heavy drum in the forefront, the music never gets wrapped up much in conventional melody, and HEALTH functions much more as half hour experiment than as a collection of songs. The entire album was recorded at L.A. venue the Smell using basic instruments, and the dynamic, organic sound that results is key in keeping their ambitions so immediately palatable. The music is hypnotic and visceral. They're a perfect running band.

Crystal Castles are, in approach, HEALTH's polar opposite. Where HEALTH is spare and organic, Crystal Castles is busy and gleefully synthetic. The instrument of choice here seems to be old Nintendo cartridges, and while it's the band's hook, they're serious about the sound's potential and never let it become a mere gimmick. Though there are few album stand-outs, Crystal Castles are good at keeping each track unique and exciting, a task many of their electro-pop piers have yet to master. And the trick's pretty simple: it's all fucking crazy. With the exception of "1991", which apes Ratatat so closely it may very well be intended as parody, the music here is consistently rich and fresh, tailor-made for the 2008 indie scene yet distinctively their own. Perfect for a party.

HEALTH - 8/10
Crystal Castles - 8/10