01/16/12: Battles - Gloss Drop (2011)

01/16/12: Battles - Gloss Drop (2011)

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)
13. Sundome (instrumental) [Japanese Bonus Track]

     Gloss Drop is the second LP from battles. It comes after 4 years without a release and with one of the members quitting to pursue a solo career. The lost member was sort of their singer and the remaining 3 members had to rewrite the whole album without him in under 4 months. This album is similar to their first full-length "Mirrored" in quite a few ways, but very different in many others. The album is mostly instrumental but they replaced their pseudo-singer by way of a few guest singers.
     Battles is an experimental rock band. Their songs tend to have a layered feel. The songs get more interesting as each band members layers are added on. The songs have a dacey vibe most of the time with a driving rhythm section and guitars and keyboards that go anywhere from slow and psychedelic to straight on distorted and rocking. I think the absence of their singer definitely changed their sound a bit. I'd say this album is a little lighter and a little more normal than "Mirrored". The absence of their singers random distorted vocal sounds and noises made their music sound a bit more down to earth. They are still strange though... Unique time signatures... Robotic future carnival keyboard playing... They might be a little bit jazz... good album though. (016)