Toronto-based electro duo, Crystal Castles received the 2011New Musical Express Award for Innovation.

Crystal Castle released their second album on April 19, 2010 that received much acclaim for the cohesive lyrics that their first album lacked. The dark lyrics swirl with the hypnotic electro beats that make you feel like you are on Ecstasy in a Quentin Tarantino film.

“Fainting Spells” is the first song on the album and it takes the listener on a chaotic journey of inhuman words and carnival like rhythms similar to a merry-go-round nightmare. The second song “Celestica” is almost a polar opposite and has an uplifting, futuristic metallic beat with the gentle resonance of a woman’s voice. The contrasts between the two songs suggest mystery and allure for the rest of the album.

“Doe Deer” is a song of furious static and unmelodic beats that clash with the rest of the albums ricocheting tempo. In contrast, “I Am Made of Chalk” has an aqua feel to the rhythm that almost sounds as if you are under water listening to frequencies only dolphins can hear.

Crystal Castles plays with a lot of variations in electronic beats that give a varied emotion to each of its songs. The unique variety of this album is quite apparent and really develops a sense of magnetism.