Crystal Castles delivers epic electronica

Every now and then, a musical act comes along and smartly nudges a genre forward to where it really should headed, while retaining a balanced blend of art and innovation. For the oft-experimental genre of electronica, that seminal act turns out to be Toronto-based Crystal Castles, and their sophomore self-titled album "Crystal Castles" is nothing short of brilliant.

The admittedly anti-social duo of Ethan Kath and Alice Glass have sprinted to the front of the knob-twiddler pack with this release. If you're new to electronica and wonder what Crystal Castles sounds like, imagine a zombie attack at a t.A.T.u. concert and you're getting close. It is simultaneously scary and enchanting, with a growling bass line.

Glass' vocals lilt in lovely fashion over Kath's dirty lo-fi beats. It's all delivered in a way that is smart and not smarmy. It's energetic without feeling frenetic. Tracks like "Vietnam" begin with an industrial buzz, and migrate seamlessly to thumping dance track.

Kath's production work here is excellent, and he gets extra street cred for recording in mysterious locations, like an abandoned garage in Detroit and a church in Iceland.

Crystal Castles has delivered the first must-have electronica album of 2010. It's spot-on stuff.

CHECK THIS TRACK OUT: "Year of Silence" goes heavy on the processed-to-the-edge bass and light on the melody for this dance-worthy track. If experimental noisy electronica needs an anthem, this will do fine.