Rating: 6/10
The first thing that struck me about Chalk’s Crystalpunk was how difficult it was to pin down. One moment I felt myself settling into its hazier sounds; the next, the beat and bass came charging through. It sounded a bit like chill-out music had collided with something built for a dark club.
I didn’t mind that collision. In fact, the shifting energy was the most interesting thing about the album for me. Chalk bring punk attitude into electronic music, then make room for quieter moments before turning up the pressure again. There is a clear sense that they know the sound they want to make.
But enjoying the sound of an album and connecting with its songs are two different things. Crystalpunk was fine to have on while I was doing something else. I could appreciate its atmosphere and the weight of its rhythms without feeling the urge to switch it off. When it ended, though, I couldn’t name a track I wanted to put straight back on.
Plenty of atmosphere, few personal standouts
That’s the sticking point with this record. Its mix of calmer passages and heavy beats kept me listening, but no individual song broke through for me. Other listeners might find a lot more to grab hold of in its intensity. On this listen, I came away remembering the overall mood more than a particular hook or moment.
I had a similar feeling of distance with Sleaford Mods’ The Demise of Planet X: I could hear the conviction in its blend of punk and electronic sounds, even when I wasn’t sure how often I’d return to it. Chalk’s approach is easier for me to sit with, but it still didn’t become a record I felt attached to.
Chalk – Crystalpunk: verdict
Crystalpunk is an interesting album with a striking mix of atmosphere, bass and restless energy. I was happy enough to let it play, and I can see why its sound has won people over. For me, it never delivered the song that would make me reach for it again.
6/10
