Battles - Mirrored [2007]

Everybody seems to be talking about the new Battles release, Mirrored…and I’m still trying to figure out why. Battles are an experimental group comprised of among others, former members of Don Cabellero and Helmet. Taking a big dose of math and fusing it with a bed of strange electronica flourishes, these guys really push the envelope in terms of odd skittering compositions. They layer all of this over a substantial bottom end, throbbing and shuddering sort of like Tool overdosed on calculus. The problem is it just wanders aimlessly around.

It is the drums that begin the album’s already well-known standout “Atlas”. While musically the track is as straightforward as any rock band’s, the indecipherable vocals add a certain element of mystery similar to that of an Animal Collective track. That is what makes this album so interesting; it seems to encapsulate the musical imagination at the moment better than most. Just as Battles begin to sound like they have a few discernable influences, the track switches up again. Largely due to its 7 minute length, “Atlas” recalls countless acts but as a whole can only be identified as a Battles effort.


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Tracklist:

1. Race : In
2. Atlas
3. Ddiamondd
4. Tonto
5. Leyendecker
6. Rainbow
7. Bad Trails
8. Prismism
9. Snare Hangar
10. Tij
11. Race : Out


Just for those who doesn't like to download blindfolded - visit last.fm page for prelisten…