Battles

Battles

Mirrored (Warp)

What's the difference between a song and a movement? For New York math supergroup Battles – Helmet drummer John Stanier, Don Caballero guitarist Ian Williams, Lynx guitarist Dave Konopka, and soundman Tyondai Braxton – the two are one in the same. Warp debut LP, Mirrored, wraps around the strength of "Atlas," a commingling of powerhouse drums tickled by affected vocals and skittering guitar. Despite the band's background, "math" doesn't completely describe the accelerating repetition of "Tonto," the creep of "Leyendecker," or the hypnotic punch of opener and closer "Race – In" and "Race – Out." There's something beyond counted measures and manipulated sound. And while Mirrored soars on tracks with Braxton's nearly indecipherable lyrics, it's still an instrumental album, progressing from tightly knit songs to sprawling movements. The difference? Intent. For Battles, that's playing to the members' individual strengths, and it's awe-inspiring, even when it gets caught up in numbers.