Stanier's drum setup is defined by both its bright yellow color and its extremely high Zildjian K ride cymbal, arguably the band's most distinctive visual trademarks. He believes the ride cymbal is overused in drumming, so he wanted to make it more of an effort to play it, forcing himself to jump up from his seat to hit it during live performances.
The band released two EPs and a single in 2004, each on a different record label (Cold Sweat, Monitor and Dim Mak); all three releases were packaged together in a reissue on Warp in 2006. With hype built up around their initial EPs and the "Atlas" single (which included a remix by DJ Koze), Battles released their debut album Mirrored via Warp on May 14, 2007 to substantial critical acclaim. "Tonto" was later issued as a single in October, its accompanying video directed by design group United Visual Artists and then soon bundled with an EP that featured remixes by Four Tet and The Field.
Gloss Drop, the band's sophomore album, was released on June 6, 2011 (again on Warp), anchored by singles "Ice Cream" and "My Machines". In lieu of the departed Braxton, several guest vocalists were brought in: Chilean DJ/producer Matias Aguayo on "Ice Cream", British singer/musician Gary Numan on "My Machines", Japanese musician Kazu Makino (of Blonde Redhead) on "Sweetie & Shag", and Japanese vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Yamantaka Eye (of Boredoms) on "Sundome". Like its predecessor the album was met with positive reviews, with many critics praising the guest vocal spots.
A four-part remix album series via Warp entitled Dross Glop arrived in the spring of 2012 (later bundled into a compilation), featuring interpretations of Gloss Drop's tracklist by Gui Boratto, The Field, The Alchemist, Shabazz Palaces, Kode9 (owner of Hyperdub), Silent Servant (of Sandwell District), Kangding Ray, Hans-Joachim Roedelius (as Qluster), Brian DeGraw (of Gang Gang Dance), Hudson Mohawke, Patrick Mahoney & Dennis McNany (also known as Museum of Love), and Yamantaka Eye.
In 2015, following a characteristically extended break of writing and recording, Battles announced their third album entitled La Di Da Di, to be released by Warp on September 18, 2015. They debuted four songs including lead track "The Yabba" on a livestream in August.
Battles' fourth album, Juice B Crypts, was released on October 18, 2019.
Bad Trails
Battles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The night is still
The night is still calm
Still combative
But never attacks
The opening line of "The night" set up the ambiance and tone of the song as calming and peaceful. The repetition of the phrase "The night is still" adds to the tranquility of the moment; however, the word "combative" inserted into the song creates a juxtaposition to the image already formed in the listener's mind, an image of a calm and peaceful night. This contrast suggests that there is conflict, a battle being fought, possibly within oneself which evokes a sense of reflection or endurance. The line "But never attacks" implies that the battle is being fought internally, and it's not being projected onto others, rather it is something one has to confront within.
The song suggests that the singer is fighting a personal battle with inner demons. It is a journey of self-discovery and the fight to overcome former vices. The lyrics are metaphoric and poetic, and the melody complements the lyrical content, creating a dream-like atmosphere, just like the silence of the night. The song tells us that whenever we are fighting inner battles, they may seem simple, yet they undoubtedly test our resilience and patience, and it doesn't matter whether you win the battle or lose; what matters is that you fought it. The night may be still and calm, yet the tussle within us never stops.
Line by Line Meaning
The night
The time when the sun goes down and darkness prevails.
The night is still
The night is quiet with no disturbances or movements.
The night is still calm
The peacefulness of the night is very apparent.
Still combative
Despite the calmness of the night, there is still potential for conflict and opposition.
But never attacks
However, this combative energy is not directed towards any specific target or individual.
Lyrics © WARP MUSIC LIMITED
Written by: DAVID KONOPKA, IAN WILLIAMS, JOHN D JR STANIER, TYONDAI BRAXTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind