Battles - Gloss Drop

Wed 25th May, 2011 in Music Reviews

You would be forgiven for expecting Battles to drop their weapons after the departure of vocalist Tyondai Braxton in 2010. His helium-tinged vox pierced the eardrums of many on their first full-length album Mirrored in 2007, and the glowing reviews soon followed. Combined with their frenzied live shows (Big Day Out 2008 anyone?) and tight instrumentals, Battles established themselves as the thinking band to watch. Singles such as Atlas, Bad Trails and Tonto set them apart from other noise at the time.

Ever-frenetic Battles sound uncomfortably poptastic in lead single Ice Cream, with guest vocals from Chile’s Kompakt producer Matias Aguayo. Other guest vocalists on the album are Yamantaka Eye, Kazu Makino and Gary Numan. Eye lets loose on closer Sundome, but it doesn’t quite hit the mark and lingers for that bit too long. Blonde Redhead’s Makino lends her sensuous utterances to Sweetie & Shag; a song that is reminiscent of some of Pixies earlier hits, with the askew keys and merry-go-round background. Electro-god Numan is frenzied on My Machines, which is perhaps the best track on the album with vocals. His wails are well-suited to the darker sounds of this song, resplendent with the mathematical precision of guitar that the band is renowned for. Drummer John Stanier gets to unleash his epic flourishes on the kit, ending in an eerie fade out. If only his new material was this good.

With the guests aside, the instrumental tracks on Gloss Drop are polished to perfection. Opening track Africastle sets the precedent for the album; inquisitive yet determined, and from 1:38 onwards, we know we are in for some high-energy performances, complete with orchestrated strings. The reggae-infused Futura is equal parts pomp to swing, Inchworm is a carnival of sleigh bells and steel drums, and album standout Wall Street, sounds exactly like the place it is named after. Tight as a cat’s proverbial, up-tempo Dominican Fade is a short and sweet venture into dance hall, whilst White Electric blends the earlier work of the band with the ‘fuller’ sound they have adopted.