Artist : BattlesAlbum : Mirrored (1st Domestic LP)
Release : 05.22.07
Year Founded : 2004
Label Name : Warp Records
Catalog # : 156
Packaging Type : Single-Disc Double-Pocket Sleeve
Members : Tyondai Braxton, Dave Konopka, John Stanier, Ian Williams
Runtime : 51:52
Area Tour Dates : 07.18.07 Paradise, BostonSound Season : Summer, Winter
iTunes Worthy Tracks : Atlas, Ddiamondd, Tonto, Leyendecker, Snare Hangar
Sounds Like : Crime in Choir Crime in Choir
Rating : A
Whenever one of my favorite instrumental bands tries to add vocals, I get worried. It often does not work out well. Nor should it. Any band that has as much going on as Battles do in their songs in terms of layering, virtuosity (without solos, mind you), and composition should refrain from even trying to throw vocals into the mix because the only way it can work out — the only way it can be good — is if you make damn sure the focus of the vocals is the sound that they make and not the words.
This is what Battles does. They have figured it out. Braxton's mostly unintelligible, chipmunkish vocals are the only way to take proggy, experimental math rock and make it catchy, not only for the veteran dorks, but for anyone.
It's so catchy, in fact, that I almost don't have to listen to Mirrored anymore. A good portion of it is playing on infinite loop in my brain. I believe that "Atlas" may be some kind of hypnotic mind melding catalyst, which is meant to incite the Battles minions. A call to arms in code (oddly enough, there's several elements in this song that you could very quickly pick out of any number of Primus songs. But don't try to take take that comparison too far, because it should and does end right there).
"Atlas" is quickly followed by "Ddiamondd." This is my favorite track for its maniacal pace and mechanical precision. Here you are afforded a chance to pick out some real words out of the vocals except that the first verse is over before you've figured out the first line. Brilliant. And the sexy, thumpy allure of "Leyendecker," which features what seems to be Braxton's take on Mariah Carey, pounds so consistently that I dare say it could even make indie hipster kids dance (as long as it doesn't mess their hair).
Battles excel at looping and layering and just building a song brick by brick until they've built a skyscraper around you and people come from all around to get a look at it because its an architectural anomaly and then the band busts out a wrecking ball and demolishes the monolith and you're left under the rubble all like, "holy crap, do it again!" And then they do.
The album falters just a bit on "Rainbow," languishing in an attempt to put too many disparate movements into one song, and "Bad Trails," which is just too sparse. I can see that maybe they wanted to throw in a palette cleanser, something to give you a break from the awesomeness, but it wasn't necessary. More insanity would have been perfectly acceptable.
Battles are exceptional players from exceptional backgrounds (Helmet, Lynx, Don Caballero) and they have created in Mirrored one of the most exceptional albums in recent memory. It has completely convinced me that they can accomplish just about anything that they put their minds to.
3 comments:
Word Brian good review, they are awesome :)
-jamie
great work. i definitely can identify with yr apprehension for vocals added to instrumental. it's kind of hard to imagine how these 'chipmunkish vocals' end up sounding, but catchy is my weakness. i loved the building/wrecking ball metaphor...
The live show translated the album nicely, and it was helpful to see them build these songs live with the endless amounts of looping. And John Stanier is just a machine. If they didn't have him helping to keep things together, they would just fall apart and sadly, be a different band with a different appeal.
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