Battles

Battles and have caused a maelstrom of interest in the last 18 months, despite having only released 3 EPs. A phenomenon that began in NYC, they soon broke out of the cliquey East Coast scene, accumulating a fervent legion of fans across the US, a testament to their astounding live performances. And now, kicking off 2006 we present them to you with a uniquely packaged introductory album.

Perhaps you have already come across this frenetic, experimental East Coast sensation when they headlined Eat Your Own Ears and rammed it to the rafters; perhaps you soon will when they play at the taste making ATP weekender in December.

Precisely why they are one of the hottest US alt. imports is this; technically awe inspiring, Battles concoct a mix of strident post-rock/ jazz/ hardcore and electronics, stunning crowds with mind boggling poly-rhythmic sequences and complicated time signatures, hurtled at you with sheer sonic velocity.

Too beat orientated to be dubbed ‘post rock’, as vanguards Battles stand on their own in the realm of contemporary music. Battles will captivate you live with the dexterous competency of each member, executing musical forms previously unattainable outside the sphere of the electronic scene.

Some have dubbed Battles a ‘supergroup’ – John Stanier on drums, originating from the legacy that is Helmet, and still lending his skills to Mike Patton’s Tomahawk and Australian powerhouse The Mark of Cain; Ian Williams guitarist/ keyboardist known for his distinctive guitar styling in cult band Don Caballero; Dave Konopka, guitar and bass, previously in the underground band Lynx and Tyondai Braxton, avant-garde solo musician (who recently collaborated with Prefuse 73), here vox/ keyboardist/ guitar/ electronics.

As Battles explain, their sound is “Somewhere between electronic and rock. Those two factors. Since we’ve always been in bands, at this point we’re like horses trained to pull the sled w/ 3 marshall half stacks plus 80lb. trap case everywhere we go, but we don’t have to play garage music the way you might if all the members had only been in garage bands before. Battles can do what it wants.”

And the result is evolved and fresh and justifies their position as the apple of the alternative scene’s eye. Everyone has Battles in their lives.