Battles Announces Juice B Crypts LP w/”TITANIUM 2 STEP” FT. SAL PRINCIPATO (OF LIQUID LIQUID)

In the fall of 2010, Tyondai Braxton chose to depart from BATTLES.  After 8 years, a pair of critically acclaimed EPs and a full-length, the vocalist/multi-instrumentalist simply decided that it was time to move on.  The son of avant-free-jazz composer, Anthony Braxton, he already had one elaborate, maniacally orchestrated solo effort under his belt, so it shouldn’t be too surprising that Tyondai might wish to focus more on pursuing his own work where he could fine tune everything to his personal liking.  Beyond that, he was pretty clear about not feeling like touring.  Meanwhile, BATTLES already had an expansive tour on deck, as well as a brand new studio album that they were said to be fairly deep into completing.  The split seemed as amicable as anyone could hope for with Braxton‘s official statement expressing his belief that the group was on a path where they were set to only improve after his departure.  Understandably, not everyone was convinced.

Moving forward as a trio, the remaining members — Ian Williams (Storm & Stress, ex-Don Caballero), John Stanier (Tomahawk, ex-Helmet), and Dave Konopka — released the brilliant Gloss Drop LP less than a year later.  I remember telling a friend who’d already heard it that it was my understanding that Braxton had left the group, and I’ll never forget their response: “It turns out they don’t need him.”  With their vocalist gone, they opted to bring in numerous other talents to fill in the gaps on select tracks.  Such contributors included Yamataka Eye (Boredoms, Naked City), Gary Numan, and Kazu Makino (Blonde Redhead).  As for performing live, they didn’t miss a beat there, either.  BATTLES is a group of incredibly skilled musicians that incorporate electronics into their sound, not only in the studio, but in the actual process of composing, building tracks around loops as a foundation.  Transitioning that into a live setting appeared almost effortless, as they would work video and audio clips of such cameos directly into their sets.  When they followed it up in 2015 with the all-instrumental La Di Da Di, it was clear that this band does nothing if not evolve.  I’m not sure if I can commit to whether or not it’s my favorite thing they’ve ever done, but it’s definitely the one that I still listen to the most often.

In May, the group posted a handwritten note on their social media accounts announcing the departure of Konopka.  Apparently, he’d left over a year prior, due to personal reasons, and while it’s an undeniably unfortunate revelation, they also stressed that it would simply mark the next state in their consistent evolution.  Most importantly, the message ended with the the promise of “more to come.”

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Earlier today, we discovered exactly what that “more” is that will be arriving.  Now operating as a 2-piece, BATTLES has a brand new album titled Juice B Crypts slated for an October 18th release date.  Much like when Braxton left, the upcoming release will see the duo bringing in various contributors to fill out the space and keep things moving in new and interesting directions.  As the saying goes, change is the only constant in life, and if any group that embodies that philosophy, BATTLES does.  The manner in which they construct their compositions also relies on tension and the push and pull of the creative forces behind the project, which is why their band name is so spot on.  Stanier is an inventive powerhouse drummer and, by and large, the member who seems ready to get in and knock a track out quicker than most.  Ian Williams, on the other hand, brings the most complex and layered pieces into the fold, as he operates keys, guitars, electronics and loops simultaneously.  The loss of Konopka means the loss of their most streamlined, precise, and minimalist component, as well as their graphic designer, who handled the cover art.  Dave may have been the least animated and, in turn, the most under-recognized member, but with manning bass, guitar, a vast array of pedals, as well as triggering samples, he was also incredibly vital to what they’ve created both live and on tape over the years.  It’s the process of them all pulling in different directions until the tracks are formed under pressure like diamonds that creates the final product.

Back in 2015, Ableton released a mini doc of the guys creating La Di Da Di.  In the film, Battles: The Art Of Repetition, the members describe their process and how it involves each of them creating little “seed” ideas independent of one another and emailing them back and forth.  From there, they toy with what they have, eventually getting together once they feel that they’ve reached particular concepts that seem to be working.  Once they meet, they typically realize that the other members have come up with ideas and directions that were completely different than what they had in mind, when creating whatever they have for them.  From there, they hammer away at these segments like a black smith to forge the end result and something that they all believe in.  That struggle became such an integral part of the process and, being that New York is so expensive to record in, BATTLES had been opting to travel to Rhode Island where they can set up shop for weeks at the equivalent rate of brief constricting sessions of NYC studio time, and really have the time to invest themselves and get what they want from an album.  Perhaps it’s the fact that they are now a two-piece which affected this approach, but Juice B Crypts seems to have found them taking on a different approach.  The first album that they’ve written and recorded in New York, it’s said to have been “influenced by the city’s rhythms.”  As for the cover art, that task has been taken on their friend and local artist, Andrew Kuo.

Titled “Titanium 2 Step,” the first single features Sal Principato of the legendary early 80s No Wave / dance punk outfit, Liquid Liquid.  Of the tune, John Stanier states, “We loved making this record in our hometown of New York and cannot be more pleased that Sal from Liquid Liquid is on the track,” emphasizing that, “it could not have been more perfect“.  Regarding the approach of the overall album, Ian Williams explains, “It’s about chord progressions, resolutions, returning home. Take that and throw it into a blender of modern electronic tools like glitching devices, or use melodic lines and take them and regurgitate them and pulverise the traditional stuff but at the same time try and retain harmonic relationships while completely smashing them up.”  Joining them on other tracks are such collaborators as Xenia Rubinos; tUnE-yArDs; Jon Anderson of prog-rock pioneers, YES; and Shabazz Palaces, who actually made an appearance with them on stage when I caught them the last time in Seattle.

They have an extensive tour lined up, so if you’ve never BATTLES live before, this is your chance to remedy that mistake.  Juice B Crypts is now available for pre-order in digital and physical formats, including limited edition clear vinyl.  We’re definitely interested to hear more, but for now, you can hear “Titatnium 2 Step.”   I played it for my 7-year-old son who, quite perceptively, noted that it really drops into “the BATTLES-y vibe” around the 1:23 mark.  Check it out below, followed by a full list of tour dates.