The Breeders 'Mountain Battles'

Posted in Music by Marcus on Apr 23, 03:00PM

The Breeders
Mountain Battles
Remote Control/4AD

The Breeders fifth record kicks off with a whimper rather than the bang that the tough-talking title and six year wait between albums implies. The celebrated US group led by Pixes bass player Kim Deal never really shifts out of low gear on Mountain Battles, but this isn't a problem as such. It's just a blindside from a band who's eccentric pop heart struggles to beat under the weight of the experimental demo fog that permeates much of this set.

The key to this record is letting it wash over you. Opener 'Overglazed' never extends past its intro flurry or its one line of lyrics. Similarly the fun but one-dimensional 'Bang On'. Third track 'Night of Joy' is where things start fleshing out a bit, with a nod back to the slinky creepiness of debut Pod. Similarly beautiful track 'Spark', its verses almost a queasy syncopated Ween-esque arrangement, before the come-down wooziness of the chorus and lyric "The flowers were bruised when the day broke".

Amongst the lo-fi spareness and exotic diversions there are still hints of the more focused pop side of the band. 'Istanbul' has Deal shouting "Where you going / To the city / Where you going / IS-TAN-BUL" with buzzing minor key effects recalling Modest Mouse's experimental middle-section of Moon & Antarctica. 'Walk it Off' is a fun crunchy number, and features the lyrics we saw Kim demoing on her tour bus in the Pixies documentary loudQUIETloud. With that film's scenes of mis-communication and tension between members, it makes you wonder if the tone of sentiments like "Nobody's allowed to fight / 'Til the band starts playing tonight" are intrinsically linked.

Indeed there's a theme of dislocation through this record, communicated via both the cut and paste lyrics and the murky, almost naive production on the majority of the record. It adds to the mystery of the band, sure, but does nothing to present a united front, or sense of longevity. (Interestingly the band line-up for the record starts with "The band were...") Instead it's a snapshot of the fragmented approach Kim Deal takes to her muse, and when you peel away the celebrated history of her other band and the previous high-water marks of this one, it serves, unfortunately, as not much more than an interesting diversion.