Battles: “We’re Not Math Rock”

Battles founder Ian Williams has spoken out against those who have labelled the band’s sound as math rock.

In an exclusive interview with Gigwise in New York, the former Don Caballero guitarist and math rock pioneer said he felt that the band had been unfairly branded as math rock because of his past association with the genre.

Speaking about Battles’ sound he said: “No. I don’t think that should be what it’s called. To me, math rock in the early 90’s meant any kind of music that you’re obviously counting. Like that’s a fifteen and that’s a nine and that’s a seven and that’s a 4/4 - it was obvious that the numbers were at the forefront of the numerology of the music.”

He added: “If math rock ever meant anything in the first place, then this certainly wouldn’t be it.”

Williams – who achieved fame in the 90’s with Don Caballero – also said that he felt math rock had lost its identity as a genre. “Now its math rock just because it is complicated and now anything could be math rock which is just so weird because it’s de-routed from what I ever understood it to be.”

Battles debut album, ‘Mirrored,’ is released on May 14th.

Watch out for an exclusive, in depth feature with Battles on Gigwise tomorrow (Tuesday April 17).