Trip like they do
Flying high with the revitalized Crystal Method
PROFILE. Since their launch into dance consciousness in 1997 with “Vegas,” The Crystal Method’s music has conjured images of space, pulsing netherworlds, lightning speed and dark cool.
It might be sunny and partly cloudy as we fly over New Mexico, but the only way Crystal Method’s in-flight promotion with Virgin America could be more fitting is if it were on a space shuttle.
“Very crazy technology here,” chimes Scott Kirkland. He’s logged in to a chat room on Meebo.com and rubbing digital elbows with their Tweekend fans. “400+ mph and 35,0000 feet in the air and my MacBook’s rockin’ a wireless connection. Crazy!”
His partner-in-beats-crime Ken Jordan is across the aisle on his laptop answering questions about Depeche Mode, tour riders and, err, grilled salmon. Turns out even the pilot is fan, but with two hands on the wheel, he can’t dial into the chat. “I’m thrilled to have them on board,” Felix Arndt sent back via a flight attendant.
The Los Angeles-based duo, who recently returned to the live arena at the music festival Coachella, are en route to Boston to kick off a 35-date tour in support of their new platter, “Divided by Night.”
It’s their first album in six years and the recording break was filled with remix records, scoring the “London” soundtrack and film and TV projects, like writing the “Bones” theme.
“Since it’s just Ken and myself, it just takes a lot more time to process and work through everything,” says Kirkland of the hiatus, back in his seat and the laptop tucked away. “We also built our new studio and that was very inspiring.”
The 10-track disc, and their fourth release overall since they broke through with hits like “High Roller” and “Busy Child,” is heavy on collaborations, zig-zagging with the likes of She Wants Revenge’s Justin Warfield, Matisyahu, Peaches, Grandaddy’s Jason Lytle, New Order’s Peter Hook, Metric’s Emily Haines and newcomers LMFAO.
“We always just say we want to make a better album,” says Kirkland. “The direction is dictated by the development of the tracks. This one called for more vocals and more collaborations.”
Kirkland says they were looking to inject more musicality in the songwriting, which called for fewer machines and more people.
“Scott is more the songwriter and musician, and I’m more the producer and engineer but we share all duties,” continues Jordan. “But we don’t have a traditional songwriting approach, like Depeche Mode who probably sits down and works it out on the guitar. We’re much more work it in out in the studio.”
“The idea for this record was to follow everything to its natural conclusion and not cut corners,” says Kirkland. “Our goal is always make a better record than before.”
The Crystal Method
Tonight, 8 p.m.
House of Blues
15 Lansdowne St., Boston
MBTA: Green Line to Kenmore
$22-$52, all ages, 888-693-BLUE
www.hob.com/boston