Rank: 4/5
Experimental rock group Battles received critical acclaim with its 2006 debut album “EP C/B EP,” and rightfully so.
This album was a fuse of two EPs released on two different labels. Despite label woes earlier in their career and a misplaced vocalist, the quality of music has increased.
This is evident in the group’s new album “La Di Da Di,” an unwavering testament to the group’s ability to create a link between fantasy and fact with a boatload of carefully placed synths, loops, drums and other ear pleasing sounds.
The opener for the album “The Yabba” is a demonstration of the album’s unique quality. This track starts with an eerie rotor, but turns into what one could compare to a pop hit out of left field with an instrumental equipped with a genius mix of sleigh bells and bass.
The song wavers at different points but turns into a ukulele based beach instrumental and fades.
“FF Bada” is a stand out track on this album.
Battles utilize the guitar more on this album than any previous album. This track starts at a slow pace, daring listeners to define it’s dithering pace. Heavy use of guitars, a banjo, bottles and what seems to be a washboard make for a good “down home” feeling.
“Summer Simmer” is just what it sounds like — a song celebrating summer.
Fast-paced strings being plucked over an alternating beat create an airy summer feel. This song sounds like it would be better suited for an iPod commercial, or on rotation in a local Urban Outfitters. This track’s consistency is surprising on an album with songs that frequently change styles.
Battles hail from New York and capture the big city esthetic on this album. A mix of culture and instruments never seem to clash but compliment one another.
A contemporary mesh of rock, pop and hip-hop may leave some listeners dazed and confused, but only after they’ve chosen their day dream.
“La Di Da Di,” acts as a Battles’ ink blot test, we the listeners are left to interpret the music how ever we feel. With the right promotion this album could catapult this group into the Hot 100 stratosphere.