Juice B Crypts [Clear Vinyl] (LP)
Battles
Amoeba Review
07/24/2020
Electronica-infused math rock cyborgs Battles have been stripped down to just a duo of Ian Williams and John Stainer, but their relentless sonic ambition remains fully intact. Juice B Crypts is the newest in a proud lineage of enigmatically named efforts from the group, and though its rhythms remain herky-jerky and its electronics warped, as is Battles tradition, it may also be their most upbeat album yet. “Fort Greene Park” is a glitchy take on ‘00s post rock, its optimistic crescendos fractured into a million tiny pieces. “Titanium 2 Step,” which features Sal Principato of legendary dance punks Liquid Liquid, might be the funkiest jam that Battles have ever recorded, sort of sounding like a Jon Spencer Blues Explosion song somehow crossed with DEVO and strong psychedelics. Less ominous than their previous work, Juice B Crypts is wonderfully fun album that finds a spark of joy in the cold, mechanical future.