BBE Interview with The Crystalline Effect

Beautifully Bound Entertainments Interview with The Crystalline Effect June 2007

BBE: First off on behalf of Beautifully Bound Entertainment I would like to thank
Mr. Pete Crane of TCE for taking the time to visit with us.

BBE: Where is the band from and could you tell us a little about it?

TCE: We are from Australia and we have been called "a genre bending icestorm", combining
elements of trip hop with aspects of EBM, resulting in a unique sound.

BBE: When did the band form?

TCE: The band met in 2002 when I put an ad in an Australian darkwave webzine looking for
a singer. Elenor Rayner answered my ad for a singer, and brought her own extensive musical
history to the project.

BBE: What did you do or were you doing before forming TCE?

TCE: Well, my background is as a guitarist, being taught since the age of 6, and I have been
making music with computers since the age of 13. Prior to The Crystalline Effect, my previous
projects include a black metal band named Widdershin, a cyberpunk project named
Robot Smasher and a world/ethereal project named The Lady Of The House Of Scandal.

BBE: Tell us what you have been working on since forming TCE.

TCE: Well, I have also established a solo project called Plague Sequence, focussing
on the psytrance, techno and industrial genres, and have played at numerous outdoor
dance festivals and underground clubs with the project.

BBE: Tell us a little about Plague Sequence.

TCE: Plague Sequence is signed to Sector 9 Studios. I also DJ under the name of
Virulent and have spun industrial & psytrance as a resident & guest at many
clubs in Melbourne & Sydney.

BBE: Can you tell us a little about Elenor?

TCE: Sure, Elenor has been a part of seminal electro-industrial act Soulscraper, who released
two CDs and played at Australia’s biggest music festival the Big Day Out, Elenor then set up
her solo project, Sobriquet, with which she has released 3 CDs internationally.

TCE: Elenor has been named ‘up and coming’ artist of the month in Rolling Stone magazine
and ‘artist of the month’ in Juice magazine. Elenor has toured extensively internationally with
her own projects as well as playing keyboards for premiere industrial act Snog.
She has also created dozens of remixes, produced artists for the Sony record label
and her tracks have been featured in several major TV programs.

BBE: The Crystalline Effect is a very unique name, can you explain it's meaning?

TCE: The name The Crystalline Effect was originally taken from a preset on a vocal FX
processing unit owned by Elenor. This name seemed appropriate as it could be used to
describe the sound of the band as an emotive blend of warm vocals and synthesised elements;
"[The Crystalline Effect is] a combination of different elements and the final product is shear,
clear and cold"-australiangothic.com. The Crystalline Effect could also refer to intricate,
repeated patterns seen on any scale, which is a theory that is reflected in the
creation of music itself.

BBE: Am I correct with the idea that TCE is the works of the two of you both in different
locations?

TCE: Yes, we both work from our own respective studios. I write and record the music
and then I give the songs to Elenor who records the vocals in her own studio and then
sends the work back to me to mix. Writing this way, the band put together a demo
which resulted in a record contract from Poland’s Black Flames Records.

BBE: So your first release was with Black Flames Records?

TCE: Yes, It was a double-CD album entitled Glass, which was released in 2005,
receiving great reviews worldwide and a few 5-star ratings. Listeners appreciated
the album’s honest songs and varied styles, venturing into trip hop, electro and
EBM territories. The album also featured a remix disc, which contained remixes
by prominent artists such as Ivory Frequency, Implant and Dunkelwerk.

BBE: I have heard you have worked with a lot of top bands could you tell us a little
about working with them and what you have done exactly?

TCE: We have done extensive work with many bands including supporting VNV Nation
on their Australian tour and playing at Distorted Festival 2005,
alongside Haujobb, Converter and others.

TCE: I am an active remix artist and have remixed internationally renowned artists
such as Implant, Angelspit, Blank, Alien Produkt and Skoyz, among others.

BBE: You seem like a very busy guy, what compilations have been on?

TCE: I have done compilations with "Fxxk The Mainstream" (Alfa-Matrix / VampireFreaks),
"Interbreeding" (BLC Productions), "State Of Synthpop 2005" (A Different Drum / Nilaihah),
among others including compilations by Crash Frequency Collective and Dark Horizons Radio.

BBE: I recently read that Black Flames Records was/is no more,
what have you done without them?

TCE: The Crystalline Effect self-released an EP entitled "Blurred Edges", containing new
tracks and unreleased remixes by artists Alien Produkt and Stark as well as remixes made
by myself. This EP served the purpose of keeping the name of the project out there while
the band worked on their second album.

BBE: Have you since signed with anyone else?

TCE: Actually we have signed with Hungary’s Advoxya Records.

TCE: In 2007, Advoxya Records will release a new EP entitled "Do Not Open",
containing exclusive new tracks as well as remixes by artists such as Negative Format,
Urceus Exit, Blank, Neikka RPM and Implant, among others.
TCE: Also to be released in 2007 on Advoxya is the band’s second album,
entitled Hypothermia. This album is a continuation of The Crystalline Effect’s
unique sound as established on their first album Glass and maintains the
depth of variation, ranging from club-oriented tracks to emotive down-tempo songs.

BBE: You sound great on your own but will you work with anyone else in the future or
will you focus mailny on TCE?

TCE: Given the song-writing method used by The Crystalline Effect, the band will continue
collaborating unhindered by the geographical distance, while Elenor will be able to commute
to Europe for live shows.

TCE: While The Crystalline Effect have always collaborated with international artists & labels,
this change will further establish the band’s focus on Europe and the greater opportunities there. BBE: Wow, I just want to say I am amazed by your accomplishments and commend you for
all you have done and very much look forward to hearing more from you in the future.
I also would like once again to thank you very much for taking the time to interview with us.