MIRRORED

Everyone is familiar with rock in the normal sense of the word; using guitars, bass, drums, etc and coming up with a rock song. However, music can be much more versatile and creative than that. Battles has risen to the forefront of the math rock scene with this debut album. The band uses the typical rock instruments, but incorporates more diverse elements, such as polyrhythms, in to their music. A lot of sonic experimentation is found on this record. One instrument that stand out here are the drums (which rarely get the credit it deserves). Most people would consider this album vastly instrumental, but actually a lot of the "noise" is overly processed vocals, something particularly noteworthy on this disc. Standout tracks include energetic opener "Race:In" and the experimental groove of "Leyendecker." This debut album is highly impressive. This particular brand of processed beats and sonic fury is without question some of the most interesting music available. It's generally high energy and genuinely fun to listen to with swirling melodies surrounding its experimental core. If you want something creative, but still accessible by rock boundaries, this album is highly recommended. One of the best surprises of 2007 that is sure to be enjoyed by fans of experimental/post-rock as well as some jazzier or more electronic counterparts. This intriguing and experimental album would make a good addition to a progressive rock collection due to its genre-bending melodic glitches that shimmer over superb musicianship.