F*ck Buttons

As Tyondai Braxton reminds us tonight, it’s been just over a year since Battles released their debut LP_ Mirrored_, and since then it’s been nothing but a constant ascent for a band who’ve proven surprisingly popular among a certain section of the populace.

So it’s to much fanfare that Battles return to London tonight before heading off to Minehead for the Explosions in the Sky-curated All Tomorrow’s Parties. First up though, are Fuck Buttons and* Dirty Projectors*, fresh from their slots from the Pitchfork ATP the previous weekend.

DiS accidentally misses Fuck Buttons due to a poorly read schedule, so first up on our bill is David Longstreth’s Dirty Projectors. Live, as on record, Longstreth and company are a difficult proposition to embrace on first impression. Tightly wound and decidedly left of field, the band’s experimental tactics and Youssou N’Dour by way of Bedford Avenue vocals demand a slow immersion into their singular world. But when that eureka moment finally hits, it’s difficult to deny that Dirty Projectors are rightfully deserving of recent praise.

The audience are certainly appreciative of everything they’ve witnessed, but the shouts of adoration are reserved for Battles as bassist David Konopka takes to the stage and starts off a looping rhythm before being joined by his comrades in arms. Like some rhythmically driven father figure, John Stanier proves himself to be the foundation for which everything else comes forth as he wails away on his drums in the middle of the stage. It’s difficult to tear ones eyes away from him, but the rest of the band certainly step up to the plate as they wind their way through extended renditions of their work. Whether it’s math-rock, future-funk or some other hybrid nomenclature that has yet to be argued over on message boards, Battles are a band visibly enraptured by what they create as a unit. Though, it’s not until the now seminal ‘Atlas’ comes in mid-set that the crowd start to heave in an almost uncontrollable fashion. It’s an explosive moment that, even though the song just might prove to be an albatross around the band’s neck in the long term, projects an alternative of what the very terms dance and rock could mean while once again cementing their place amongst the modern vanguard.

Taken as a whole, tonight is a fitting victory lap for the year that was. The only question now is whether or not the men in Battles can do it all again with LP number two. Fingers are now officially crossed in anticipation.