Inspired by Wookie’s garage mantra ‘Everyday is like a battle/ But we’ll push on through’, ‘Battle’ incite the individual to fight for their dreams. Debut album, 'Break The Banks’ is set for release on September 3rd and features ‘The Longest Time’ and the epic ‘Paper Street’. It’s an album full of organic, atmospheric and emotionally intelligent songs which reveal a kinship with greats as varied as The Smiths, ‘Remain In Light’ era Talking Heads, and post-Britpop Blur. Lyrically it revolves around the central theme of hope in adversity as singer, Jason Bavanandan explores nostalgia and friendship, the environment, political apathy and relationships with a searching humanity and elegant turn of phrase.
Battle formed in Canterbury when schoolfriends Jason Bavanandan and Jamie Ellis met Tim Scudder and Oliver Davies, while studying at UKC. Spending countless hours writing, first in their student house and later in a disused bank-vault under Luton, they resolved to create forward-thinking and emotionally resonant music that would endure. They later established a base in North London. Debut 7” ‘Isabelle/ Feel The Same’ was released by legendary talent-spotters Fierce Panda, before the band found a permanent home with Transgressive Records. The limited edition ‘Demons/ Damascus’, Battle’s first Transgressive release, sold out in a day. In March 2006, the band hit no.37 with their first chart-eligible single, the phenomenal ‘Tendency’. Bavanandan’s emotionally-wrought lyrics reflected on those who unwittingly sell-out; souls drowning in a cocktail of careerism and booze: ‘I know I dance like a drunken arse/ Every weekend is my only vice/ Let me drink myself to death/ To forget about the rent’.
‘Break the Banks’ was recorded in February 2007; the band moving between Miloco, Mews, Overtones Studios, as well as working on Ellis’ laptop. Production was shared between the band and up-and-coming Jeff Knowler. The expansive sounds of the album reveal a band influenced by artists as diverse as David Bowie, The Smiths, The Verve and Justin Timberlake. “The Longest Time’ alone has got about twelve different percussion tracks’ explains drummer, Oliver Davies, ‘Cabasa, handclaps, tabla, it’s all in there. There’s even a track of me patting my stomach. See if you can find it!’
Around the release of ‘Break The Banks’, Battle play Reading/ Leeds before joining Kubichek! on tour. Things climax with a headline at London’s ICA. These are exciting times for the band. ‘Break The Banks’ is a classic set: melodic, emotional and stylistically ambitious; placing timeless themes within a 21st century context. Music of questing spirit and resonance. That, affirms Bavanandan, is the Battle philosophy:
‘This is music for the soul. It’s not driven by a need to be in vogue or pay tribute to the past. Our impetus to make music is a burning desire to be sincere and to be honest.’
