Battles’ last album Gloss Drop lacked the exuberant rainbow melodies of their previous album Mirrored because, Tyondai Braxton left to pursue his own vision. His 2009 solo album Central Market was a vertiginous trip into experimental rhythms, too much so for regular revisiting.
Here, for Rework: Philip Glass Remixed, an album celebrating the legendary composer’s 75th birthday, Braxton plucks for a edifying funk shuffle. The experimental textures are still very much in place but the whole thing has a satisfying polychromatic bounce to it that makes it stand out.
Rework: Philip Glass Remixed also features remixes from Beck, Cornelius, Dan Deacon, Pantha Du Prince, Johann Johannsson, Nosaj Thing, Memory Tapes and more (listen to the whole thing at NPR);
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
