After recording their debut album (Under the Cold Light of the Moon) at Abbey Road Studios last year, Sydney-based alternative dream rock band Crystal Cities decided to try out an entirely different approach for their upcoming second LP, Hold Me Close Hold Me Tight. This time there was no fancy studio or producer, but just the combined effort of the 3 individual band members.

At the beginning of 2020, lead singer/guitarist and primary songwriter, Geoff Rana decided to take it upon himself to learn all the ins and outs of recording. With the help of free educational resources such as YouTube, Rana began putting the information he learned to good use, applying it as he tracked the band’s second album at this house in Sydney. It was a ‘learn on the job’ type of process for Rana who’s skills developed exponentially as the band worked through the entire 10 song tracklist.

Early indications of the album’s strength are good with lead single “Don’t Speak Too Soon” being added to Spotify’s Fresh Finds: Rock editorial playlist and garnering praise from international blogs such as Surviving the Golden Age and Analogue Trash.

Now Crystal Cities are back with the album’s second single, “Got My Back to the Wind”. The song demands very little from the listener besides pure enjoyment. It’s engaging, laid back, has one heck of a catchy chorus, and really just sounds like the band having fun.

"'Got My Back to the Wind' is based on a night out I had where I found myself at the casino till the late hours of the morning. I pieced together moments and characters from the night as inspiration for the song and based the narrative around a larger-than-life main protagonist - a sharp dressed, martini-drinking gambler with attitude, rolling with the big time players.⁣
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The character finds himself winning effortlessly and thinking he can do no wrong. Draped in woman, with pockets full of money, and completely out of his mind, he eventually stumbles out of the casino in the early hours of the morning looking for the next adventure. ⁣
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'Got My Back to the Wind' is the high before the hangover.'"⁣
⁣- Geoff Rana (vocals/guitar/keys)

With the helping hand of world-renowned LA-based mix engineer Paul Lani (David Bowie, Prince), Rana and co have dealt fans a sharper and more hard-hitting Crystal Cities sound while still maintaining the signature ‘Dream Rock’ elements that they established in their 2019 debut Under the Cold Light of the Moon.

The band saw a lot of success in 2019: a sold out show at The Newsagency in Sydney, a #14 debut on the FMQB SubModern Albums Chart in the US, and glowing album reviews from The Rockpit, KTSW 89.9, and Portland Radio Project 99.1. The album was even declared the “Best Album of 2019” by music blog Indie Pop-Ups.

Title track and lead single from their debut album, “Under the Cold of the Moon” also fared well, receiving airplay on Double j, Triple j Unearthed, and Triple M as well as being credited as the 10th best track of 2019 according to Eclectic Music Lover.

Crystal Cities are Geoff Rana (vocals/guitar/keys), Jared King (bass/backing vocals), and Daniel Conte (drums/percussion).