Battles @ ABC 2, 23 May

Listening to Battles' debut album, Mirrored, it's hard to imagine that any band could even approximate such a complex and layered sound in the live setting. Tonight, despite the ridiculously humid conditions inside ABC 2, the quartet shatter (excuse the pun) any doubts we may have, working together with an apparently telepathic single-mindedness to create a sound that is not only gorgeously intricate but also brutally powerful. Battles thrill the crowd with a set that transcends the virtuosic means of its conveyance; by turns creating passages of hypnotic tribal rhythms and euphoric, skittering melody. Watching this band play is an astonishing physical spectacle; utterly compelling and quite unlike any other gig experience. Atlas makes perfect sense tonight; nobody escapes its juggernaut groove, and the crowd are affected by an almost religious fervour. This music is a celebration - the only downside is that Battles are making everyone else look primitive by comparison. [Jay Shukla]