Battles at Academy 2

It was almost a year ago when Battles announced the making of their third studio album, but now we can mentally pen in the date of September 18, when La Di Da Di is set to satisfy fans who have been itching for new material since 2011’s Gloss Drop. There was widespread chaos when Tyondai Braxton announced his departure, but after that full-length of experimental, grizzly loops and sounds set atop off-beat percussion with some pretty high calibre guest vocalists (Gary Numan, Matias Aguayo), Battles harboured no doubt that they were still, innately, Battles. Please, let’s not make historical comparisons; this band’s allure transcends a change in formation. Additionally, their album artwork (right) has this sexually visceral edible theme – so that’s something.

Fri Oct 23, Manchester Academy 2, Moss Ln E, Manchester M14 4PX, 7pm, £15, www.seetickets.com