The Crystal Ark “Rain (XXXTended Version)”
After releasing its debut LP via DFA last year, label mainstay Gavin Russom’s and vocalist […]
After releasing its debut LP via DFA last year, label mainstay Gavin Russom’s and vocalist Via Ruiz’s The Crystal Ark outfit has now offered up an “XXXtended” version of album cut “Rain.” The tune is led by a bouncy drum machine and matching bass groove, which are eventually joined by more traditional instrumentation—live guitar, percussion, and the vocals of Russom and Ruiz. But the real gems of this edit are the layers of analog synth work which fill out the track, giving it a sound welcomely reminiscent of Giorgio Moroder’s disco odysseys, or—to reference someone we’ve talked about quite a bit on XLR8R, as of late—SF legend Patrick Cowley. Given that this extended version allows for even more synth wizardry to take place, we’re certainly glad Russom and Ruiz decided to revisit their debut album’s lead single, even if it is a year later.
