The Crystalline Effect - Identity (2008)

 Emerging from Australia, The Crystalline Effect have been called "a genre bending icestorm", combining elements of electro, EBM and trip hop with female vocals. The band is a duo comprised of Elenor Rayner (vocals and lyrics) and Pete Crane (music) who met in 2002. 
The Crystalline Effect have reached the dance floor globally with remixes by internationally renowned artists such as Ivory Frequency, Negative Format, Implant, Neikka RPM, Blank, Urceus Exit, Dunkelwerk and many others. The Crystalline Effect have also been featured on well-known compilations such as "Fxxk The Mainstream" from VampireFreaks/Alfa-Matrix and "Interbreeeding" from BLC Productions, among many other appearances. 
In 2008, The Crystalline Effect hit the European stages in full force with several concerts in Holland, Hungary, Estonia and Latvia in support of bands such as Hocico and Snog. 


Some of the songs that stand out to me on Identity are How I Get Out as the beginning of it is really pretty and has a dance beat tinged with a grimy, darker synths. The melody is enjoyable along with the energy its got to it and combined with the flickers of different synths.
Life Has Failed You is strangely beautiful with contrasting dark lyrics yet bright melody and synths. Its got a chill-out feel to it as well but on the more upbeat side of the spectrum which makes it enjoyable.


Unfortunately there isn't really much else I can say about this album. Even though it does have some beautiful synths, melodies and lyrics the same formula makes it repetitive and I really wanted to hear them do something different in some of the songs. The songs on their own like in a play list would be fine but to listen to them all together can make them seem a little flat. They've already got the synths and the vocals down but they needed to be a lot more creative with them for my liking. 


3*


Track list:

1. Blue Sea
2. How I Get Out
3. Ialundra
4. Researching Us
5. Life Has Failed You
6. When The World Ends
7. When You're Asleep
8. Five Ways To Run
9. One Time In Life
10. Radio Waves
11. Right
12. Researching Us (lee Bulig Remix)
13. When The World Ends (Endif Remix)
14. Nothing Warms This Room (Tazman Module Remix By Impact Pulse)