Gloss Drop
Gloss Drop is more concerned with sustaining a groove than surprising the listener at every turn. Battles keeps its guitars, keyboards and drums closely connected while allowing the music a little more space. The unusual sounds and small rhythmic changes remain, but they more often support a clear forward movement.
Ice Cream makes that approach especially convincing. Matias Aguayo contributes a playful vocal that feels integrated with the instruments. His voice becomes another part of the rhythm, helping the track sound loose and bright while plenty continues beneath its accessible surface.
The other guests give the album variety, although their contributions are not equally effective. Kazu Makino brings a softer, more melodic contrast to Sweetie & Shag. The change of mood is welcome, but the connection between the singing and the busy accompaniment sometimes feels less natural. Gary Numan gives My Machines a distinctive presence without quite matching the easy movement of Ice Cream.
There are strong moments without a singer too. Guitars and keyboards are processed until their roles become difficult to identify, while John Stanier's drumming gives the music a firm physical foundation. At their best, those passages combine close attention to detail with a genuine sense of momentum.
The running time and the placement of ideas are less reliable. Some instrumental stretches develop for a long time without offering an equally strong melodic reward. The playing remains impressive, but interest can begin to drift before the next clear highlight arrives.
Gloss Drop is most engaging when Battles gives its complicated parts an obvious purpose. The album is less consistent than its strongest moments suggest, yet Ice Cream and the more focused grooves show how enjoyable this unusual music can be. It rewards an interest in the details without always making every one of them essential.
