Released - 6/6/11
Label - Warp Records
BLURB - Over the last few years, Warp has really been at the forefront of putting out new and innovative music. Just a quick look at their roster and you're blown away...Flying Lotus, Grizzly Bear, Bibio, etc. Battles certainly fits this mold of new, progressive and independent music. Honestly though, this record is tough to sink your teeth in to -- at times there is just too much going on. For the most part, the album is digital heavy -- with tons of new effects and noises that catapults Battles into the enigmatic 'experimental' category for me. While some tracks do have genuine appeal and creativity, as a whole the album tends to be a bit much. There's just too many ideas and stuff going on.
Rating - 6.5 out of 10
FULL STORY - 'Africastle' begins the album with dark and ominous tone. Distorted violins are plucked as rolling waves of fuzzed out guitars circle about. The track spends it's first two minutes continuously building and really starts going at about the 2:30 mark. What's missing from this track is a sense of melody and rhythm. There is really no motif as it's just a collection of distorted instruments and effects that never wind up going anywhere. However, this is offset by some of the creative arrangements that are given to the piece -- the song has three distinct sections which does provide for an interesting listen.
'Ice Cream' comes out like gangbusters and has become one of my favorite songs of the year so far. The song opens with a ferocious keyboard and organ battle that turns into a full-fledged war before settling in to a great hook that will serve as the foundation for the track. 'Ice Cream' has a clear direction and energetic mood to it that becomes infectious very quickly. The track also retains something of a rough exterior in part to it's distortion and thunderous percussion. After hearing this, I'm certainly beginning to become more optimistic about the rest of the album.
The third track, 'Futura' patiently builds as a collection of muted guitar chords and strings are bounced off one another. Waves of synths and organs are slowly pumped in, creating a futuristic ambience. Once the atmosphere is set, numerous leads are filtered in, mainly coming in the forms of keyboard and synth riffs. The track, while somewhat dark, retains an upbeat and adventurous tempo. 'Futura' is a great song to play if you're ever on Mars looking for aliens.
'Wall Street' is where some of the album begins to fall off. There is a cool arrangement of noises and effects, but there is just too much going on and at too fast a pace. It's hard to keep up. What initialy sounds like a creative electronica jaunt, quickly turns into chaos. 'Wall Street' sounds like something Flying Lotus would have created if he just drank about ten or twelve red bulls. With that being said, there is still a great energy and ambience to the track, but it ultimately ends up getting lost in its own confusion.
With 'My Machines,' Battles seems to falter again, trying to do too much without ever really accomplishing anything. The focal point of this particular track is the rapid and feverish drumming. It's so much the focal point of the mix, that it ends up taking away from the rest of the track. In reference to the rest of the instrumentation -- the percussion steals the thunder and every other musical element to the song has to play the second banana. Also, with a drum-heavy track like this, it's extremely difficult to establish any kind of harmony, melody or catchiness -- leaving the song treading in it's own waves.
'Dominican Fade' briefly wins me back with a bright display of colors and tones that will transport you to some futuristic beach. The pace is upbeat, the tone is inviting and there is almost a party feel to it...but there's a catch. For whatever reason this track clocks in at 1:49 and is ending just as I'm really starting to love it. Bummer. Luckily, the track segues into the spaced-out and trippy 'Sweetie and Shag.' This track continues on with some of the pop assimilations that were created in 'Domincan Fade,' adding a cool sense of psychedelic haze. The track is somewhat dizzying but remains both listenable and likable.
As a whole, Battles "Glass Drop," if nothing else, is an interesting collection of experiments and sounds that makes you do a little thinking. By no means, is this an album filled with songs and singles -- rather it's filled with ideas, fragments and movements. At times this approach can become a bit overwhelming and chaotic, but there is still some cool stuff buried in there. I'm not sure how often I'll be listening to this album in the future...but it's definitely unique enough to merit a few more times around my iTunes.
Take a listen to 'Ice Cream.'
Tracks
1.) Africastle
2.) Ice Cream (Feat. Matias Aguayo)
3.) Futura
4.) Inchworm
5.) Wall Street
6.) My Machines (Feat. Gary Numan)
7.) Dominican Fade
8.) Sweetie & Shag (Feat. Kazu Makino)
9.) Toddler
10.) Rolls Bayce
11.) White Electric
12.) Sundome (Feat. Yamantaka Eye)
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