Cave Rave

Cave Rave
Studio album by Crystal Fighters
Released 24 May 2013
Genre Folktronica, alternative dance
Length 37:46
Label Zirkulo
Producer Crystal Fighters, Justin Meldal-Johnson
Crystal Fighters chronology

Star of Love
(2010)		 Cave Rave
(2013)
Singles from Cave Rave
  1. "You & I"
    Released: 23 April 2013
  2. "LA Calling"
    Released: 29 September 2013
  3. "Love Natural"
    Released: 15 December 2013

Cave Rave is the second studio album by English/Spanish electronic music band Crystal Fighters, released on 24 May 2013 on their label, Zirkulo. The album consists of a mix of genres from Basque folk to straight electronic and dubstep. It was preceded by the official release of the single "You & I" as well as the airing and/or online streaming of the first four tracks[1][2]

Development

The album was recorded in Los Angeles. It was produced by Justin Meldal-Johnson, and mixed by Manny Marroquin in LA.

Artwork

The album artwork was created for the band by artist Paul Laffoley, and was unveiled on Jay-Z's Life + Times website on 18 February 2013.

Release

The band released a preview clip of "Wave" on 6 February 2013. On 18 February, they announced the release of Cave Rave, a larger tour in Europe and a tour across North America, and posted the song Separator on YouTube. The official video for "Separator" was posted on YouTube on 8 April. The official video for "You & I" was posted on YouTube on 23 April. The track "LA Calling" was streamed on the official Crystal Fighters website on 14 May.

"You & I" is the album's official lead single. The song was debuted on BBC Radio 1's Zane Lowe show as the "Hottest Record in the World". Subsequently it has been added to BBC Radio 1's playlist and 3FM in the Netherlands' playlist as MEGAHIT. The video was directed by Elliot Sellers and was premiered on Vice Noisey. Sunless 97 remix was premiered on FADER (magazine), and Gigamesh remix was premiered on Vibe Magazine.

On 14 May 2013 The Guardian announced Crystal Fighters plans to hold a 'Cave Rave' in the heart of the Basque countryside on 29 August 2013.

"LA Calling" was the second single to be aired from the Cave Rave album. The Guardian published a link to "LA Calling" on 13 May 2013.

"You & I" was added to BBC Radio 1's B List on 5 June 2013.[3]

Composition

On 9 May 2013, on This Is Fake DIY, lead singer Sebastian Pringle gave a track-by-track guide to the album .

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source Rating
Metacritic 58/100[4]
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [5]
Consequence of Sound [6]
Evening Standard [7]
The Guardian [8]
The Independent [9]
musicOMH [10]
NME 5/10[11]
This Is Fake DIY 7/10[12]
Time Out London [13]

The album was positively received by critics. upon release. The Times newspaper called the album "overwhelmingly infectious" in a 4/5 review; The Line Of Best Fit awarded the album 8.5/10 and called it "a delirious pleasure";[14] The 405 website said it "a perfect companion for sizzling meat and endless sunsets";[15] Aesthetica called it "a collection of enlightening anthems that will inspire listeners to keep dancing all night"; The Big Issue said the album is "like an upbeat Arcade Fire"; Huffington Post said the album is "bursting with so much life and euphoria."[16] The Evening Standard described the album as "...abound of a deep love of Basque culture and the occasional splash of tequila. Take this CD on holiday, or, even better, see them live."[17]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Crystal Fighters. 

No. Title Length
1. "Wave"   3:30
2. "LA Calling"   3:49
3. "You & I"   3:30
4. "Separator"   4:08
5. "No Man"   3:42
6. "Bridge of Bones"   5:39
7. "Love Natural"   3:19
8. "Are We One"   3:35
9. "These Nights"   3:19
10. "Everywhere"   3:15

Personnel

Credits for Crystal Fighters adapted from liner notes.[18]

Crystal Fighters
Additional personnel

  • Todd Burke – engineering
  • Kristian Donaldson – engineering
  • Chris Gehringer – mastering
  • Tim Green – design
  • Lauren Johnson – backing vocals
  • Paul Laffoley – album cover
  • Manny Marroquin – mixing
  • Andrew McDonnell – engineering
  • Justin Meldal-Johnsen – bass guitar, electric guitar, engineering, keyboards, percussion, production, programming
  • Nila Raja – backing vocals
  • Shaun Savage – engineering
  • Mike Schuppan – engineering
  • Chris Testa – engineering
  • Holly Walker – backing vocals
  • Patrick Warren – piano
  • Lionel Williams – inside cover
  • Hugh Worskett – pre-production
  • Sigrid Zeiner-Gundersen – backing vocals
  • Luzmira Zerpa – backing vocals

Charts

Chart (2013) Peak
position
Australian Hitseekers Albums Chart[19] 9
Austrian Albums Chart[20] 60
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)[21] 76
Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)[22] 122
Dutch Albums Chart[23] 61
Spanish Albums Chart[24] 86
Swiss Albums Chart[25] 77
UK Albums Chart[26] 87
UK Indie Albums Chart[27] 20
US Top Heatseekers Albums[28] 27

Release history

Region Date Label
Australia[29] 24 May 2013 [PIAS] Australia
Germany[30] Different Recordings
United Kingdom[31] 27 May 2013 Zirkulo
United States[32] 28 May 2013 Atlantic Records

Cave Rave event

On Tuesday 14 May 2013 The Guardian announced Crystal Fighters plans to hold a "cave rave" in the heart of the Basque countryside on 29 August 2013. [33]

The Cave Rave event took place on Thursday 29 August at Zugarramurdi cave outside San Sebastian, deep within the band's spiritual home of the Basque countryside. [34] New wavers Belako and party-starting six piece Wilhelm & The Dancing Animals opened the show and warmed up the crowd before Crystal Fighters took to the stage. The show was sold out and the review were all extremely positive with coverages on the Rolling Stone, El Pais and many other relevant blogs online.

References

  1. ↑ Breimann, Kate (5 April 2013). "Crystal Fighters Explore Nature in 'Separator'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  2. ↑ Perry, Kevin EG (4 April 2013). "Crystal Fighters - 'Wave'". NME. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  3. ↑ "BBC Radio 1 Playlist". BBC Radio 1. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  4. ↑ "Cave Rave – Crystal Fighters". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  5. ↑ Phares, Heather. "Cave Rave – Crystal Fighters". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  6. ↑ Kitching, Bryant (30 May 2013). "Album Review: Crystal Fighters – Cave Rave". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  7. ↑ Clark, Pete (10 May 2013). "Album reviews: May 2013". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  8. ↑ Nicholson, Rebecca (23 May 2013). "Crystal Fighters: Cave Rave – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  9. ↑ Price, Simon (25 May 2013). "Album: Crystal Fighters, Cave Rave (Zirkulo/Pias)". The Independent. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  10. ↑ Baber, Andy (21 May 2013). "Crystal Fighters – Cave Rave". musicOMH. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  11. ↑ Nicolson, Barry (3 June 2013). "Crystal Fighters – 'Cave Rave'". NME. IPC Media. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  12. ↑ Richards, Will (23 May 2013). "Crystal Fighters – Cave Rave". This Is Fake DIY. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  13. ↑ Goldstein, Danielle (24 May 2013). "Crystal Fighters – 'Cave Rave' album review". Time Out London. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  14. ↑ http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/crystal-fighters-cave-rave-125733
  15. ↑ http://thefourohfive.com/review/article/crystal-fighters-cave-rave
  16. ↑
  17. ↑ http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/music/album-reviews-may-2013-8602698.html?origin=internalSearch
  18. ↑ Cave Rave (CD liner notes). Crystal Fighters. Zirkulo. 2013. ZKL009CD.
  19. ↑ "ARIA Report". ARIA Charts. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  20. ↑ "Crystal Fighters – Cave Rave" (in German). austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  21. ↑ "Crystal Fighters – Cave Rave" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  22. ↑ "Crystal Fighters – Cave Rave" (in French). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  23. ↑ "Crystal Fighters – Cave Rave" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  24. ↑ "Top 100 Albumes – Semana 22: del 27.05.2013 al 02.06.2013" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  25. ↑ "Crystal Fighters – Cave Rave". swisscharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  26. ↑ "Official UK Albums Top 100". Official Charts Company. 8 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  27. ↑ "2013 Top 40 Independent Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. 8 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  28. ↑ "Cave Rave Awards". Allmusic. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  29. ↑ "Cave Rave – Crystal Fighters". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  30. ↑ "Cave Rave" (in German). Amazon.de. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  31. ↑ "Cave Rave". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  32. ↑ "Cave Rave: Crystal Fighters". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  33. ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/may/14/crystal-fighters-rave-in-cave
  34. ↑ http://www.contactmusic.com/press/crystal-fighters-unveil-full-details-of-their-zugarramurdi-cave-rave-on-august-29th-2013