Crystal Stilts - New Single: Delirium Tremendous

After the September release of album Nature Noir, Brooklyn's own fuzzy noise pop darlings Crystal Stilts have triumphantly returned-- with new single "Delirium Tremendous." But this time, there's less fuzz, and more sun. The track begins with a deliciously upbeat, almost Krautrock-sounding tempo, built around singer Brad Hargett's Ian Curtis-like croon. He makes a fervent plea to be understood: "Delirium/Delirium/Deliver me from tedium." The lyric creates a dark, complex backdrop to the otherwise light and playful pace of drums and insistent, building guitar. Perhaps a bit of shadow lurks beneath the sunny veneer. Without warning, things change direction and a bridge builds out-- a slowed tempo oozing with a "party's over" sense of resignation as Hargett himself resigns: "And after all/Is said and done/We have to go." But is the party really really over? No time for contemplation-- as all traces of the bridge have melted away, replaced by the resurgence of the frenzied, driving pace that you were just starting to miss. This track has the feel of being on a spontaneous road trip; and although Hargett and Co. make a pit-stop halfway through the wild ride to get out of the car, pace around a bit and contemplate the universe, they more than make up for the break once they get back on the highway; with tires screeching, steering wheel swerving, and blissful, reckless abandon charting the course through to the song's abrupt end. Damn right, it left me wanting more.

As it happens, this month Crystal Stilts will be rolling through a slew of East Coast (and even a few Midwest) cities with some live dates. Schedule below:

6.14.14 - Rock and Roll Hotel [tickets] - Washington, DC*@

6.15.14- Ottobar [tickets] - Baltimore, MD*

6.16.14- Cattivo- [tickets] - Pittsburgh, PA*

6.17.14- Mahall's [tickets] - Cleveland, OH*

6.18.14- Empty Bottle [tickets]- Chicago, IL*

6.19.14- The Warehouse- Ann Arbor, MI*

6.20.14- NXNE- The Garrison- Toronto, ON

6.21.14- Il Motore- Montreal, QC

6.22.14- Space Gallery [tickets]- Portland, ME

6.27.14- Baby's All Right [tickets]- Brooklyn, NY#

*with Juan Wauters

@ with Craft Spells

# with Christines

TRACK REVIEWCrystal Stilts "Delirium Tremendous"