65daysofstatic - We Were Exploding Anyway

Math-rock, post-rock, experimental: just three of the labels which have been tagged onto 65daysofstatic over the nine years since their formation in 2001. And now we can add electronica to that mix. We Were Exploding Anyway is, it seems, a natural progression for 65dos to take. Similar to their debut, The Fall of Math, this – their fourth studio album – is full of exceptional ingenuity: rich guitar lines thunder from the speakers, intertwining with infectious synth hooks as intense breakbeats mix seamlessly with live drums. It’s a mix which, on paper, might seem far too ambitious; however We Were Exploding Anyway is flawless: with not a beat out of place, 65dos have produced a compelling and wholly listenable record.

Mountainhead is an electrifying opener. From the first sound of the rhythmic drums to the final string-laden climax, the track oozes charm and catchiness, while Crash Tactics is a storming stomp-along which would feel no more out of place on a Clubland CD than it would gracing the pages of the NME.

Each of the nine tracks on this album are fine-tuned and honed with obvious care. On We Were Exploding Anyway 65dos rely less on their guitars, focusing instead on the electronic elements of their music. Both Go Complex and Weak4 brilliantly showcase 65dos’ grasp of instrumental dance-cum-rock, whilst the dulcet tones of Robert Smith from The Cure appear on Come to Me.

It’s not an easy task to craft an album of instrumental rock where every song stands on its own; there are plenty of boring instrumentalists out there. Not content with forging their own way through the jungle that is the music industry, 65dos have taken it upon themselves to reinvent their sound, adding a whole new explosive dimension to an already-rich soundscape. What 65dos have done is err away from predictability, taking their sound in a new direction and showing the world just how music can evolve. It’s no surprise, though. 65daysofstatic were exploding anyway.

We Were Exploding Anyway is out now on Hassle Records.
More information can be found at www.65daysofstatic.com

ES