Synth-pop duo Glass Spells are back with Crystals, their first new LP in three years. Each track on the album gleams with an icy allure infused with melancholic undertones and sultry vocals that pull at the heartstrings. This mesmerizing collection of songs sweeps the listener into a cinematic realm illuminated by neon lights, evoking introspection and undeniable charm.
Hailing from the sun-soaked shores of San Diego, Anthony Ramirez and Tania Costello have already made their mark at major West Coast festivals like Darker Waves and Cruel World. Ramirez, the instrumental virtuoso, seamlessly melds his diverse musical talents into the band’s entrancing melodic vistas, while Costello’s commanding vocals and evocative lyrics bring forth euphoria and heartache with heightened emotional resonance. The combined effect of these compositions leaves a haunting imprint, each note dripping with emotion and echoing the duo’s knack for blending the dark and the delicate.
The new album Crystals kicks things off with Without You, a tale of yearning and desire for connection. Costello’s voice trembles, longing for love and touch, echoing the emptiness felt in their absence. The lyrics paint a picture of deep longing and emotional void, centered on the desire for connection.
&
Venom slides into a sultry, dark disco beat, with Ramirez’s shimmering synths swirling around determined vocals. The track pulses with an ominous allure, drawing you into its web of unrequited love. It portrays the speaker as a mere reflection of their lover’s desires, consumed by the venom of affection and the silence of rejection. Craving true connection, they seek to be made whole by their lover, revealing a mix of desire, deception, and vulnerability.
Glow shifts to a more melancholic tone, ending on a somber note with the line, “I don’t even know who you are.” The song depicts waking to silence and paralysis, facing the decline of a once vibrant love. The struggle to escape a painful reality is palpable. One lies for love, dies from the pain, and tries to flee a tormenting place. There’s a sense of betrayal and confusion, not recognizing the person they once knew. The longing and denial are central, painting a vivid picture of emotional conflict and heartache.
Before Dawn dazzles us from the start with a glorious synth arpeggio, setting the stage for Costello’s mournful pathos. Her wistful words weave a tale of lost connections and lingering regret; reflecting on burned memories and a heart turned to dust. The recurring theme is the profound sense of loss and the longing for reconciliation.
The title track, Crystals, opens with a spacey synth and an 80s-does-50s girl group vibe. It carries a Lynchian feel, reminiscent of a Chromatics tune on speed. It delves into a past love, capturing those moments when life felt simple and full of promise. The imagery of multicolored lights, neon skies, and dance floors conjures up vibrant memories. Despite the inevitable end of the relationship, there’s a poignant yearning for the time when they were together, reflecting on the dream-like quality and crystal clarity of those moments.
Consequences is a more tender synth-pop ballad about facing the music, giving advice in her sweet soprano. The theme revolves around themes of worry, doubt, and resilience. The song encourages diving into the moment, finding light, and drying tears. There’s a plea for understanding and reassurance, emphasizing not losing oneself amidst challenges. Ultimately, it speaks to enduring the night and finding some solace until tomorrow.
Hechizos, sung entirely in Spanish, takes an unflinching plunge into the profound and often tumultuous emotional landscape of betrayal, the raw, unvarnished emotions that stem from that piercing sting, and the journey toward catharsis and self-discovery in its aftermath.
“Writing Hechizos was like going back to my roots, it was a deeply personal process for me,” muses Costello. “It was a chance to reconnect with my first language and revisit the rock en español – songs I grew up listening to…I hope listeners find a voice for their own struggles and a reminder of their strength.”
Haunting describes the journey of a wounded lover on a deserted road, grappling with pain and the remnants of a faded romance. They ponder the possibility of staying together if dreams are shattered, questioning the endurance of love. The recurring theme of fading pain and fading dreams underscores a sense of hopelessness and longing for resolution, capturing the emotional turbulence of love and loss.
Listen to Glass Spell’s Crystals, below:
Glass Spells will be on tour in the US this fall. Catch them on the following dates:
Follow Glass Spells:
Bay Area darkwave duo Yama Uba dropped a self-directed video for Shapes, a standout from their debut album Silhouettes on…
Subliminal influence is a shadowy trick, slipping past the front door of your mind while you're busy at the back.…
Love and heavy metal have always had a rocky romance, with the former frequently claiming the crown in pop’s parade…
The Chameleons, often hailed as unsung heroes of the post-punk, gothic, rock, dream pop scenes, stand as one of Manchester’s…
"Stay strange and pure at heart!" Swedish post-punk provocateurs THEN COMES SILENCE unleashed Trickery, their mighty seventh release, earlier this year…
“There’s a new song we can write to sing ourselves...” Single Lash offers up incisive, shimmering riffs wrapped in a…