Battle: Break The Banks
Monday, 03 Sep 2007 11:00
Battle: Break The Banks: New ground reached in first proper album
Transgressive Records, out September 3rd.
In a nutshell...
Introspection, anger, facing demons, brilliance
What's it all about?
Battle's first proper album after last year's magnificent Back to Earth mini-album. The group continues their battle against their demons, but there is some hope over the dark Northern Sea. What you have is a touch of Talking Head, a dash of Joy Division and a soupcon of the Smiths.
Who's it by
Battle are a four-piece from Lewisham, but don't let that put you off. Last year the magnificent Tendency reached number 37 in the hit parade and Children made similar waves. Highly rated by those who know them, but widely ignored by all else, it seems.
As an example...
"How long, have I been living in limbo? How long has it been someone else's fault?" - The Longest Time
"Sometimes I live a lonely life, such a pointless life. God knows I like to criticise, the only way I get by." - Demons
What the others say
"Sadly, the much-hyped Break The Banks is big on ideas and short on execution." - Virgin Media Music
So is it any good?
Breaking the Banks unsheathes its sword with the fantastic The Longest Time - a world of claustrophobic longing, animal passions - with rough guitars and the musical version of depression and hate, and perhaps a farthing's worth of hope.
The album tells the story of battling against the feelings of being lost, hated, and wanting love but it never gets deluded by cliché. Singer Jason Bavanandan's fight with his own demons is plainly, poetically and honestly told.
But for those scared of entering one man's personal hell put to music, Break the Banks has enough modulation. There are songs of hope (Paper Street, Northern Sea) among the depths of dejection, without losing a sense of wit - Bavanandan tells us he is a happy little engine. And through this journey, Breaking the Banks finishes with heads looking high (or at least looking The Other Way) and a sniff of a knees-up.
Every time you listen to Battle's debut it sounds better. Let's get this clear - Breaking the Banks is a pretty excellent album.
With so many bands looking for the gong for the most insipid album of 2007, Battle put together ten tracks that offer more layers of genuine emotion and musical ingenuity than has been around in ages and makes you enthusiastic about music again.
A whisker off 10/10
Daniel Barnes
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