Battles

Gloss DropWarp ****

Battles are back. Though reduced to a three-piece following the departure of Tyondai Braxton, the math-rock experimentalists remain hell- bent on blowing our collective minds. True, Gloss Dropfails to land the same sonic kick in the balls that made Mirroredsuch a five-star affair (nothing comes close to matching the genuine magic of Atlas) but in Braxton's absence a selection of guest vocalists add fresh colours to the supergroup's palette. The instrumentals bear the scars of the trio's demented imaginations, all dense melodies and tribal rhythms, and the turns by Matias Aguayo and Yamantaka Eye (Boredoms) who, respectively, turn Ice Creamand Sundomeinto shiny, warped-pop wig-outs will keep the listener on the right side of disquiet throughout. At the heart of the album's success is Battles' ability to translate their ideas from esoteric blueprints into challenging yet accessible end products. See bttls.com

Download tracks: Ice Cream, Futura, Sundome