Artist: Crystal Castles
Album: Crystal Castles (II)
Release Date: January 1, 2010
Label: Polydor Ltd. (UK)
YouTube Link: Watch on YouTube
Produced by: Ethan Kath, Paul Epworth
Mixed by: Ethan Kath
Engineered by: Paul Epworth
Composed by: Ethan Kath, Alice Glass
Crystal Castles’ Celestica is a dreamy, melancholic outlier on their second studio album, Crystal Castles (II). Known for their abrasive, glitchy electro-punk aesthetic, the band shocked many fans when they released this track—a serene, almost spiritual moment amid chaos.
Unlike the chaotic distortion of earlier hits like “Alice Practice,” Celestica floats on shimmering synths and subdued rhythms. Alice Glass’s vocals are soft, layered with reverb, and delivered with a ghostly detachment that perfectly fits the dream pop and shoegaze elements at play. It’s a track that seems to live in a liminal space—between euphoria and sadness, life and afterlife.
Lyrics & Meaning
While the lyrics themselves are abstract and emotionally distant, the backstory behind Celestica adds a dark edge. The title references a real Canadian electronics company. Ethan Kath, one half of the duo, reportedly claimed in an interview that the song was inspired by an alleged tragedy at the Celestica factory: a worker committing suicide by jumping into a vat of molten plastic—materials that were supposedly still used in production. While this story has been widely dismissed as an urban legend, the morbid imagery lingers beneath the surface of the track.
Production & Sound
Ethan Kath and Paul Epworth, both credited as producers, crafted a piece that’s equal parts synth-heavy and emotionally raw. The mixing, done by Kath himself, allows Glass’s vocals to drift through space like a spirit, never too close, never too far. The soundscape is minimalist yet immersive—an intentional contrast to the rest of the album’s harsher sounds. The use of sustained synth pads, simple beats, and delayed vocals gives the track a haunting, church-like quality.
Music Video
The music video, directed by Ethan Kath and Rob Hawkins, was filmed in Abney Park Cemetery in London. It features children from the London College of Music playing classical instruments among gravestones, while Alice Glass lip-syncs in black clothing. Ethan Kath, with his face streaked in mud, adds to the occultish, ritualistic energy of the video. The gothic visuals enhance the song’s themes of sorrow, transcendence, and detachment.
Critical Reception
Celestica was widely praised upon release. Pitchfork and NME both recognized it as one of the best tracks of 2010, and it remains one of Crystal Castles’ most beloved songs. Critics highlighted its surprising softness and the emotional contrast it offered within the dark, chaotic world of Crystal Castles (II).
Final Thoughts
“Celestica” is the calm after a storm—or perhaps the calm before it. It’s haunting, beautiful, and filled with a kind of sorrow that feels sacred. This song stands as proof that Crystal Castles were more than just noise and rebellion—they were also architects of feeling, capable of crafting quiet devastation as well as sonic violence.
If you’ve only heard their more aggressive tracks, this one will surprise you—in the best way possible.
🎧 Listen here: Celestica · Crystal Castles (YouTube)