Introducing: Crystal Stilts

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It’s a dark, spooky world out there and Crystal Stilts are its soundtrack. Taking cues from the Velvet Underground, Phil Spector, The Ramones and anyone else who happened to dress in black, their sound comes from another age. There’s nothing forced in their music, it slides out from between a set of dirty sheets, floating like a ghostly prescence in the room.

Debut album, Alight of Night, gets a full release in the UK this month and don’t be surprised to find it in some mid (and final) season polls. Seemingly finding a musical corner in which to prop themselves up in that sounds unlike anything else that’s being produced at the moment, it’s knowlingly retro without being cliched. Their music is basic – a swirling, almost shoe-gazing noise that’s filled with spirits and darkness. Yet there’s an ear for a pop hook as well. The tumbling drums and Spector almost-wall-of-sound production should fill night clubs the country over.

We fired off some questions to Stilts main man JB Townsend to see if he could shed some light on their dark, dusky sound…

For people out there that have never heard of you. Give us three reasons why they should…
Ahh… I’m not good at tooting my own horn.

Can you recall the moment when you first decided you wanted to become a musician?
I can’t recall a specific moment but my grandfather was a producer/musician and he influenced me in his absence to be involved in music.

Where do your songs come from? What’s your inspiration?
Probably the same place most songs come from. Inspiration comes in many forms and at different times. Usually when you’re not thinking about it too hard. I usually take a song idea and bring it to the rest of us and we build on it.

Name your Top 5 records.
I don’t think i can labor that much thought right now. It changes every few months. I’ve been into the Voice of the Puppets single lately although I don’t own it.

What was the first gig you ever played and was it a success?
It was at a place in Brooklyn in december 2003 and it was with The Mad Scene – It was a success because HK liked it.

What one piece of criticism has stuck in your mind and was it justified?
Someone said something about using influences to write in way thats not blatantly ripping off but more combining to make something fairly new – which is what most music comes from for the past thousand years.

What one thing has caused you to waste your free time in the past 6 months?
Interviews and Photo-shoots. Its the name of the game so we cant complain. We spend more time taking pictures than practicing which is a little disconcerting. Thats probably something you all don’t want to hear though. cheers.

If you weren’t making music, what do you think you’d be doing?
I’m not exactly sure – probably collecting more music or starting a record label.

What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?
There’s been a few but… line cook at Pizza Hut when I was 16 was raw – no joke.

We’d like you to make us a mix-tape. Pick five tracks with a theme of your choice.
The subject is ” T ”
1. The Toys “This Night”
2. Tommy Johnson- “Cool Water Blues”
3. Tronics – “favourite girls”
4. The Tams “Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy”
5. The Trashmen – “It Takes Two”

Crystal Stilts on Myspace