Battles – 'Gloss Drop' review
When Bill Berry left REM in 1997, Michael Stipe insisted that “a three-legged dog is still a dog – it just has to learn to walk differently”. The Stipean epigram could just as easily apply to Battles, one man down after Ty Braxton’s departure last year: Gloss Drop is undeniably a Battles record, but with an altered gait. And if the remaining three feared Braxton’s absence, they’ve made a feature out of a potential bug – the hole he left behind is not papered over but embraced, an effect that offers a deeper, more undulating record than Mirrored, with more air and intrigue.
While there’s no Atlas here to hum in the shower, this remains the sound of three brains pulsating in absolute union, a masterclass in rhythm and texture. Gloss Drop is not only a triumph over adversity but also one in its own right.
9/10
