I have to admit that after some stirling live shows and a couple of killer singles over the past year my musical appetite was whet for Battle’s fist long player. So I was a little disappointed at first when this 7 tracker landed on my doormat. However, fear not! These angry young men from Luton haven’t downed tools to create some prog jazzasterpiece. Instead recent writing sessions have been so productive that Battle have decided to release a full length of newer material next year, and so this mini album represents the songs that formed the bands early live set. And rather ace it is too.

‘Wicked Owl’ opens proceedings. Built around a gorgeous piano refrain and Jason Bavanandan’s melancholic vocals it explodes into an athemic chorus. A precedent is set. This is brooding; driving rock with nods too Echo and The

Bunnymen or Editors. ‘Tendency’ ,‘Beautiful Dynasty’ and potential single ‘One More Night’ are built around raindrop-esque guitars, deft keyboards, pixies-esque drumming and incessant melodies.

Battle should be applauded on the brave re-workings they have included of some of their earlier songs. While a move away from their more angular beginnings will alienate some of their audience, who may have seen them as another Bloc Party, these re-recordings show that the band are uninterested in fads and have more then a passing knowledge of what makes up classic pop.

Album highlights ‘I never stopped’ and ‘Isabelle’ are delightful slices of happy/sad mope pop. Dynamically they flow along in crests and troughs, bringing to mind The Cure's early 90's masterpiece 'Wish', when Robert Smith was at his most literate.

As a call to arms Battle have so far come up with the goods. This mini album showcases the excellent potential of the band, as songwriters and musicians to move people and create timeless music. The band talk the talk (recent interviews have seen them slagging off Razorlight and Coldplay) and now they have to walk the walk. So far, So Good. I personally can’t wait to see where their imaginations take us next time.

Review by Andrew Moran
www.thisisbattle.com