Battles is comprised of drummer John Stanier of Helmet and Tomahawk, guitarist/keyboardist Ian Williams of Don Caballero and Storm & Stress, and guitarist David Konopka of Lynx (Tyondai Braxton, son of avant garde composer Anthony Braxton, left the group in 2010 to pursue his solo projects). Even without Braxton, they still provide their post-rock playfulness and charm. Instead, they have opted to bring in some guest vocalists such as Gary Numan (!), Matias Aguayo, Blonde Redhead’s Kazu Makino, and the Boredoms' Yamantaka Eye. Not bad, eh? The result is pop from another planet, unfettered by conventional structures but still remarkably immediate and catchy.
The instrumental songs bear the strength of Mirrored's staccato drumming yet bringing in island-inspired steel drums, but not so much that we are singing "irie mon"! There's a true sense of joyfulness in the playing. Drummer John Stanier says, "I don't think challenging, new music has to be super serious all the time. That's really boring to me and pushing boundaries should not be boring." True, I don't think there's a dull moment to this album.
Take a listen to this short ditty, "Rolls Bayce".
Buy your copy of Battles Gloss Drop here.
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