Battery Face – what's what stuff

It's remarkable that the long player concept remains pretty much the same in 2014 as it was in 1964. While almost every other pillar of the music industry has crumbled under the relentless digital advance, the album continues merrily on its way, a familiar package of around 10 songs, all written, rehearsed and polished before recording.

Battery Face are far from being the first band to flip that tradition on it's head, but their approach to what's what stuff is still striking. The second album from the experimental trio clocks in at just under 40 minutes, yet contains only three improvised pieces of music. The second track, Formacuealicue, is a bracing 18 minutes from start to finish.

Anyone familiar with Battery Face's previous work will know they don't take themselves too seriously, as evidenced by the gloriously-titled opening track, Justin Bieber Sausage. But don't expect any cheap laughs in the music. This is full-blooded improvisation; a cacophony of brittle, distorted guitars and unsettling drones delivered by Alastair Chivers and Gavin Will. Drummer Rikki Will earns his stripes for keeping everything relatively chained together.

Standard song structures are not in evidence; if you want a recognisble reference point before listening, try the Velvet Underground's Sister Ray from around the 10 minute mark, right when John Cale starts his duel with Lou Reed. Unsurprisingly, what's what stuff will not be everyone's idea of easy listening. But if you're looking for new music from a band that is constantly reinventing itself, then strap yourself in for this dazzling ride.