Rise

Format

• ---

  WARPCD212CD  £10.00

Label

Warp

Battles

Gloss Drop

*** Please note the Rise Record Club version of this album which comes with an exclusive, limited 7''***

Battles releases their second album proper (third if you count the E.P compilation) & first since the departure of vocalist & guitarist Tyondai Braxton. To fill the hole vacated by Tyondai, we hear guest vocals from Kompakt producer Matias Aguayo who features on lead single ‘Ice Cream’, Gary Numan, Yamantaka Eye (Boredoms) & Kazu Makino of Blonde Redhead. The album has a much more playful sound than one might imagine considering the fact that the band themselves have described the recording period as ‘dark’. Despite this ‘playfulness’ the album is full of complex & challenging as one might expect of three guys who played in numerous math-rock bands of the 90s. The performance & production on the album really do showcase a band at the top of the game. The overwhelming feeling that I get from ‘Gloss Drop’ is not the disappointment of a band member leaving but of the new found possibilities to produce their best work to date.

As John said, ‘it’s like going from K2 to Everest.’

Tracklist

• 1 Africastle
  2 Ice Cream
  3 Futura
  4 Inchworm
  5 Wall Street
  6 My Machines
  7 Dominican Fade
  8 Sweetie & Shag
  9 Toddler
  10 Rolls Bayce
  11 White Electric
  12 Sundome