FRICTION NYC

There’s something to be said about the consistentency of interesting artwork from a band. Although it’s not as important as the band’s music or live show, it’s key to create a visual image aside from the music for listeners to latch onto. Some bands manage to do this incredibly well, take Peter Saville and Factory Records for example, his designs weren’t that complex, but fit the music he created them for perfectly. One of my favorite designs of his is the cover for the 12″ Single of New Order’s “Ceremony” (Fac. 33). It’s a simple design, just a blue line on white background and black lettering, but for some reason I’m drawn to it and it represents the stark sound of the song.

Occasionally you’re immediately attracted to a band from their imagery, because these days, it’s likely one of the first things that you’re going to see and I guess that’s what lead me to write this post. It can also go the other way around; I can mention a few albums I picked up based on cover art alone and haven’t played since. But for Crystal Stilts everything clicked from the start. Even before I listened to a single note of Crystal Stilts songs, read a description or review, I was already drawn to them from their artwork. Their somewhat dark and moody art nouveau inspired work was a visual gateway to the band’s stripped-down post-punk sound. The one-two punch of solid songwriting and interesting artwork made me an instant fan of the Brooklyn quintet, now we’ll have to see about that live show.

Crystal Stilts play FRICTION on June 29th with Philly’s Tickley Feather and Seattle’s PWRFL Power at Cake Shop.

[MP3]: Crystal Stilts  ”Crippled Croon”
Crystal Stilts, eMusic Select; 2008