65daysofstatic – We Were Exploding Anyway

Boom Goes The Dynamite

Recorded in an impressive seven days, 65daysofstatic bring you their fourth installment in a series of awkwardly titled studio albums, We Were Exploding Anyway. Originally released in Europe in 2010, the States are just now able to find the album in record stores. The (mostly) vocal-free four piece outfit give their sound a techno veneer with the addition of  samples and synths, but they manage to do so without compromising the post-rock instrumental vibe they’ve cultivated over the years.

We Were Exploding Anyway kicks off with an original drum solo on “Mountainhead,” followed by loud, hard, inspired keys and guitar riffs. “Dance, Dance, Dance” begins with melodic piano before breaking into crunchy drum loops, layered guitar and keys. The song “Piano Fights” sounds exactly like you imagine it would, with multiple piano leads fighting for your attention alongside complementary guitar and drums. “Go Complex” relies heavily on synthesizers and indistinct samples to create an upbeat instrumental song that seems more suited to a dancehall than a concerthall. Lastly, “Tiger Girl” gets your feet moving with progressive synth and drum loops which build into a ten minute crescendo, cuing the end of the record.

65daysofstatic is one of those experimental UK bands that you’re not quite sure how to accurately describe, but remain an auditory treat. Blurring the lines between instrumental post-rock and electronica, We Were Exploding Anyway is a masterful piece of work, and although some longtime fans might not appreciate the shift to a more electronic sound, anyone who enjoys contemporary instrumental soundscapes should give this album a listen. And for 65daysofstatic, it will be truly exciting to see what sounds they come up with next.