eCentral

Monday March 9, 2009

Weapon of choice

By DARYL GOH


Danceable, distorted and built to break musical stereotypes, NYC experimental outfit Battles is one live act not to be missed.

IF you could judge a band (and its sound) by looking at its top MySpace friends, then Battles is bound to baffle with the intriguing choices it has selected. It’s never simple to corner such an explosive and musically complex quartet. Especially one like Battles that has defied categorisation since it emerged on the broader scene in early 2006 with the EP C / B EP compilation, a prelude to its acclaimed and favourably reviewed debut album Mirrored a year later.

As noted, Warp Records, Four Tet, Prefuse 73, Animal Collective, Black Dice and Gang Gang Dance are the main names on the Battles’ MySpace page, a curious list which, in itself, reinforces the fact that this highly-versatile band is a mind-boggling amalgation of numerous genres.

Hailing from the musically fertile surrounds of Brooklyn, the four experienced New York musicians that make up the Battles line-up have become a true musical enigma, busting all genre tags on their way to widespread recognition.

The band’s forthcoming concert at Orange Club, Jalan Kia Peng in Kuala Lumpur, on March 19 is already tipped to be one of the independent shows of the year, something to possibly shade Scottish noiseniks Mogwai’s concert in KL in January.

Battles, the New York-based experimental rock band, plays Kuala Lumpur on March 19.

Presented by Soundscape Records, the Battles gig is yet another initiative from the independent promoter to put KL on the map for such critically-acclaimed acts as they start heading and opening up to new fans in this region. To date, Soundscapes has brought some notable niche bands like Dirty Three, Explosions in the Sky, Mono and Mogwai to these shores.

“Experimental as they might sound on record, Battles is a band that must be experienced in a live setting. It’s a blend of organic and electronic (music) coming from four guys on stage. They know how to rock, how to bring atmosphere and energy to a gig ... it’s going to be an unforgettable show,” said Mak Wai Hoo, the founder of Soundscapes Records.

Mak also revealed that Battles is an entirely different proposition to the Mogwai show two months ago. There might be similarities in the fanbase, according to Mak, but Battles represents the meeting point between live rock music and 21st century technology on stage.

Signed to influential British label Warp Records, Battles has shown ambition and creative audacity in its recordings, utilising poly-rhythms, complicated time signatures and sound sources that merge the boundaries of electronic and guitar band.

The band’s line-up includes ex-Helmet drummer John Stanier, ex-Don Caballero guitarist Ian Williams, ex-Lynx guitarist Dave Konopka, and music maverick/vocal manipulator Tyondai Braxton (son of avant-garde jazz musician Anthony Braxton).

Formed in 2003, the band stood out from because three of the members come from very successful, cult post metal, hardcore backgrounds.

Stanier, who openly expresses his distaste for the term “math rock”, was the skins-basher for Helmet and continues to drum for Tomahawk, while noisemaker Tyondai, equally brilliant at guitars and electronics, has collaborated with acts as diverse as experimental hip hop outfit Prefuse 73 and avant garde composer Glenn Branca.

Citing influences as diverse as Igor Stravinsky, Ennio Morricone, filmmaker Stanley Kubrick, German painter Neo Rauch and comedian Andy Kaufman, the band has definitely found the common ground between the visceral and cerebral.

With rave reviews received by Mirrored, featuring the head-turning single Atlas, and favourites like Tonto and Race In, Battles has amassed quite a sizeable following abroad. That led to the band playing major festivals from Fuji Rock (Japan), Reading (Britain), Big Day Out (Australia) to Bonnaroo (United States). This month it embarks on an Asian tour, making sure it makes a vital stop in KL.

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