'Mirrored' - Debut LP from Battles

[Rsdio]

It's not due out for quite a while yet but it's oot thar. I liked the EPs they did but a lot of the songs didn't sound as if they were quite fully developed. At first I thought the same about

, the single from this new album, but after a couple of listens it got lodged right into my mind and now I think it's completely immense, the best thing I've heard so far this year. I've only had one listen to the album so it's not had chance to bed in yet but my first impressions are very, very good. A lot of the songs have vocals, surprisingly, but they're generally so processed that they're like another instrument rather than being words.

For those that don't know, they're a bit of a supergroup containing members of Don Caballero and Helmet, plus Tyondai Braxton. They're signed to Warp and they sound like they belong there, mostly they sound quite post-rock/math-rock but there's a definite electronica influence too.

I'd be curious to see what other people think of it.

[lordcookie]

I think I liked that. The vocals sound like a cross between Animal Collective and the last album by The Knife. I think it is the sort of track that will take a few listens to really get into but it does sound interesting.

I totally agree with your comment about their EP. I really wanted to like it but it never quite got there.

[Ben]

I heard it yesterday - Definitely one of the best of 2007 so far - a more rounded and complete effort than their EPs.

Seeing them at ATP in May, supposed to be immense live

[Rsdio]

Yeah, a few of my friends have seen them and said that. They're playing in Leeds in May so I'll be going - support is from Chris Clark and Beans, I'd have been happy paying a tenner to just see those so having Battles too is a bargain.

[imp]

I think I liked that. The vocals sound like a cross between Animal Collective and the last album by The Knife. I think it is the sort of track that will take a few listens to really get into but it does sound interesting.

I totally agree with your comment about their EP. I really wanted to like it but it never quite got there.

Funny you should mention AC, I saw Battles supporting animal collective last summer. Bloody amazing gig that was!

I'm really excited about this album, I was quite a big fan of the EPs. I've been looking for this leak for a while with no luck. Bah, I'm rubbish at the interweb!

[Ben]

I can send you an Oink invite if you want Imp? Just PM me your email address.

[imp]

Cheers, PM'd!

[BlinkyBear]

I really want to wait and do the decent thing and buy it when it's released.

But instead i'm off to oink.

Cheers for the heads up.

[scribble]

Its fucking ace. Has hardly been off since I got a hold of it yesterday.

Not out till May though?

[roskelld]

I like that track, it really does feel like an evolution of the sound from the e.p's, which I already loved.

Battles and Guapo are two bands on my list to see. I'll have to make it so if the live show is as good as people say.

What's this Oink business? I feel out of touch.

[imp]

I like that track, it really does feel like an evolution of the sound from the e.p's, which I already loved.

Battles and Guapo are two bands on my list to see. I'll have to make it so if the live show is as good as people say.

What's this Oink business? I feel out of touch.

If you like to watch insanely technical music (one hand playing guitar, the other playing keyboard at the same time type suff) being performed with plenty of energy and a spectacle, then yes, you'll love it.

Just had my first listen to the album, it's absolutely fantastic!

Sales +2

[BlinkyBear]

Oink-torrent place that specialises in rare/unusual/decent music.

It's fucking rubbish though-it's mega harsh on sharing ratios-which is fine, but I find it IMPOSSIBLE to share anything. My dl/ul ration on utorrent is about 4, my oink one is 0.08

[roskelld]

How does it compare to Soulseek?

Sorry for knocking this off topic.

[BlinkyBear]

How does it compare to Soulseek?

Sorry for knocking this off topic.

Nevr really used soulseek tbh.

I'm a bit of a snob and try to avoid dl'ing music, I feel bad for the artists losing a sale and i prefer the physical item. But now I need every penny I can get my hands on, I've started grabbing albums online as a way of testing if they're worth a purchase. Oink has proved useful for that, but how much longer they'll let me have shit ration for, I don't know-though it's not for the want of me trying to share!

[Roboplegic Wrongcock]

As my Oink account seems to be closed, could a kind soul see it in their hearts to up one or two tracks as a sampler?

[hungry joe]

NO one would download any music off me when I had oink so I got kicked off. Its really annoying.

[bruised_blood]

NO one would download any music off me when I had oink so I got kicked off. Its really annoying.

It's a bloody cracking album. More than lives up to promises set by the EP's, and 'Atlas' is one of the best songs i've heard so far this year...

And they're brilliant live too. Saw them supporting Animal Collective, and they were one of the best support acts i've ever seen. And i've seen Radiohead in support...

[imp]

Was that at the Asotria last summer by any chance?

Also: Rainbow = AMAZING.

[bruised_blood]

Was that at the Asotria last summer by any chance?

Also: Rainbow = AMAZING.

that'd be the one!

[imp]

The LP arrived in the post this morning! I didn't realise it was out yet, that was a nice surprise.

[BlinkyBear]

The LP arrived in the post this morning! I didn't realise it was out yet, that was a nice surprise.

Yup, I shall be picking it up on Monday.

It's clearly a contender or album of the year, and Atlas is easily top 3 singles of the year.

It's odd though, they're getting mad press about Mirrored-NME are going nuts over them and whilst I agree, it's strange to see a band who make the kind the sort of music that they do get such mainstream acclaim.

Well annoyed I'm gonna miss them in Sheff next week.

[Rsdio]

I'll pick my LP up at the Leeds show, it'll probably save a couple of quid. I'm pretty oblivious to the press, I'm surprised to hear they're getting that much acclaim.. Maybe the NME is finally seeing that there's a world outside dull indie rock again, or is that speaking too soon?

[BlinkyBear]

I'll pick my LP up at the Leeds show, it'll probably save a couple of quid. I'm pretty oblivious to the press, I'm surprised to hear they're getting that much acclaim.. Maybe the NME is finally seeing that there's a world outside dull indie rock again, or is that speaking too soon?

Mirrored has been available to listen to on the NME.com frontpage all week.

Not sure, but with the NME loving Battles, Foals and Besnard Lakes at the moment, I'm both suprised and worried.

I guess it's good for the bands at least.

[imp]

Oh man, the NME like battles? Now I feel all dirty. What stupid genre-label have they tried to force on the band? Math-Disco?

[/elitism]

I got my LP from warpmart, it was £9.99 and came with a free poster (Oh joy). I really want to go see them on wednesday with foals supporting, but I have an exam on thursday.

[Marzipan Travolta]

fuck the exam. Foals are astounding live too.

[Ben]

I'm going to see them on Saturday I can't see what the problem is with the NME giving them a good write-up, the music is far too out-there to ever get any kind of true mainstream appeal but the more people who hear it the better.

[imp]

fuck the exam. Foals are astounding live too.

I saw foals first ever gig, and a couple since. and I've seen battles before too. Yeah, who wants to touch me?

I would really love to go.. but... agh. oh well....

[Rsdio]

I was speaking to a mate who's also going to the Leeds date about the support, I know Clark's on but most websites have Beans down as well. Apparently it's actually going to be Zan Lyons who I've not heard anything of for probably five years or more, it was a bit of a shock when I heard the name.

[Pekoe]

Apparently it's actually going to be Zan Lyons who I've not heard anything of for probably five years or more, it was a bit of a shock when I heard the name.

I used to play with Zan on Phantasy Star Online back on the dreamcast. Nice guy, sent me a copy of Desolate.

[Rsdio]

I heard a couple of tracks and saw him play at the Leeds festival one year, it seemed like he had a lot of promise but then he just dropped off the radar. It'll be interesting to see what the stuff he's doing now is like, I'd be surprised if it wasn't still quite inspired by Suicide.