Brooklyn-based label DFA Records is best known as the house that James Murphy built , thanks to the success of his now-defunct project LCD Soundsystem. Like LCD, DFA is predominantly known for its dance-punk sound, having worked with the likes of The Rapture, Hot Chip, Holy Ghost!, and YACHT. The Crystal Ark– the moniker of musician/artist Gavin Russom– is the latest in a long line of popular, NYC based dance acts that have come out of DFA. Unfortunately for The Crystal Ark’s self-titled debut, it just doesn’t distinguish itself enough among them. 
The Crystal Ark certainly has its moments of groove-worthy glory, but the album’s lack of focus seriously dampens the mood. What’s cool about Rossum– who works as The Crystal Ark alongside Viva Ruiz– is that his influences are endless (always a good thing in dance music). At any given moment, the tracks on The Crystal Ark could be reminiscent of baile-funk beats, the slick synthesizers of the 1980s, or early 90s techno. Despite its clear Latin American vibe, the record’s sparse style keeps it sounding fresh and modern; think Bonde do Role meets the streets of New York.
So basically, what The Crystal Ark attempts is pretty solidly cool, but maybe Rossum and Ruiz should attempt a little less of it. “Ascension” opens the album in a promising fashion, with a thriving, repetitive classic dance beat. Similarly, the urging, primal sounds on “We Came To,” mixed with Ruiz’s Portuguese vocals and Rossum’s keyboards, is a clear winner. Also worth checking out is the fast-paced “Crossing,” but after these first few tracks, the record sort of drops off into a pool of similarly sounding beats with the occasional smattering of synth.
“Paradise” and “Rhodes” are two slower, more chilled-out misfires, and I just wish that the tropical vibe of “Morir Soñando” felt a bit more funky and lot less flat. Overall, there are good moments and bad moments on The Crystal Ark, but the majority fall somewhere in the middle. You could do far worse in terms of dance music, but you could also do a lot better.
2 / 5 bars
