In 2007, after I absorbed Mirrored and saw the group perform in Los Angeles on the tour supporting that album, I decided that Battles were the future of rock. In a review written for OC Weekly that year, I called Battles “an advanced race of sonic geometrists, conceiving impossibly intricate aural angles and trajectories at breakneck velocity and convulsive power. At times, Battles seemed to be composing thrilling car-chase themes for Mensa members, insanely rapid gamelan pieces for fans of 1980s King Crimson, or avant-garde Looney Tunes for those who find Carl Stalling’s work to be too sedate.” Also, Brian Eno is a Battles fan, and cosigns don’t come much loftier than that.
So how are Battles doing 12 years after that landmark tour and record? Pretty damned good, although the quartet they were then has dwindled to the duo of guitarist/keyboardist Ian Williams and drummer John Stanier. Tyondai Braxton departed in 2010 before sophomore album Gloss Drop was released, while bassist Dave Konopka left in 2018.
