Battles: Gloss Drop

While Battles has neither created a new sound nor built exactly on their debut, they have come up with something quite brilliant.

Gloss Drop
Warp
****

"Math rock" was always one of the sillier sounding musical sub-genres, but most admitted that in the case of Battles, the classification made a lot of sense.

From their giant angular riffs, looped and layered using a network of pedals, to the lightning-fast beats and cascading synth-drenched vocals, the group's songs sounded like they had sprung from the mind of a supercomputer, rather than four New Yorkers who'd been on the scene for more than a decade in various bands.

But the news last year that vocalist Tyondai Braxton had departed during the recording of this, their second album, led many to fear the equation might break down altogether.

On Gloss Drop, the immediate problem - finding some vocals - is solved with a roster of guest singers, including Gary Numan and Blonde Redhead's Kazu Makino. From the throbbing rock of Futura to the balmy dreamscape of Sweetie & Shag, there's plenty to sink one's teeth into.

The greatest achievement on the record is also the greatest point of departure: Ice Cream, featuring Matias Aguayo, is a stomping pop number in which Ian Williams's guitar takes on the rasp of a harmonica. Gloss Drop was an opportunity for Battles to either build on the hulking rock of their debut, or create a new sound for themselves - they haven't really done either, but it still adds-up to something rather brilliant.