This isn’t my conventional way of preparing for gigs, but this one has crept up on me. I know I like 65daysofstatic, but it’s been some time since I listened to a record. Long enough for me to… sorry if they’re reading, forget them. Don’t shoot me yet though. This is a rare thing and a chance as I see it to go in a little cold and be surprised. Whilst safe in the knowledge that I won’t be disappointed. Of course the surprise is short lived as the forgotten pleasure comes flooding back in an instant. They’re like GY!BE with an electronic undercurrent and if you think that sounds cool, it’s because it fucking is! The drums are live of course, as are the three guitars, couple this with synths and it’s a heady mix. I quickly twig they’re playing the ‘Wild Light’ album in full, which is another pleasant surprise. I’ll admit it’s one of the records I know better than others but honestly I’d never clocked it was about “The end of the world” as we’re informed. Forgivable? Considering it’s all instrumental I think so. There’s a dark melancholia throughout though and that’s always a tick in my box. Watching bands like this live it has to be said can be hit or miss. Not for the sound, but the presentation. They do it well though, for five blokes playing often brutally uncompromising music, they’re pretty animated. Drums pulverised, guitars wielded, plenty of head bobbing that’s impossible not to join in with. A lot is built around those drums and boy are they loud. I’m experimenting with earplugs after deciding that it’s time I started looking after my ears. After a few songs though, I come to the conclusion that tonight’s pair are shit and I’m losing too much of the top end. The drums are great, but it’s what’s built on top of them that make this lot tick. Thick layers of guitar tones, electro loops, piano syncopation and monolithic slabs of meaty melody. They’re at their most powerful when they’ve built to that wall of enveloping sound. The sort that makes your chest swell as you close your eyes and lean into it, the stage lights bleeding through your eyelids like an experimental arthouse opus. It is of course, wonderful, but without sounding too harsh, they’re not a band to change your life. I can’t help feeling though that they should be more revered than they are. After Wild Light closes, there’s a short interlude. Now I’ve seen a lot of these album in full gigs and often what follows can feel a bit disjointed or even disappointing (I’m looking at you Lemonheads). This lot are not going to make that mistake though as they pile in with another set of heavy hitters and I realise my error in heading down the front, still with a broken ankle. It’s a bit lively when you’ve not got full range of movement, but this is a big room. It’s not far off sold out but there’s lots of space, which makes it one of my favourite venues at this capacity and much more comfortably when physically incapacitated. The set is not all cinematic chin stroking serious stuff, there’s apocalyptic bangers too that will liquify your organs and cause the lad in the NIN shirt next to me to absolutely lose his shit. To give it a visual metaphor, the fella with the synths grabs drumsticks out of his back pocket and bludgeons a Tom Tom. As introductions and thank you’s are made, it’s clear this is a tight unit built with a history of love and respect. It’s a tough time for bands right now (when is it not), it’s heartwarming to see this band met with the sort of devotion this audience have for them and with a near two hour set of glorious sonic bliss, it’s well deserved. If you like bands like GY!BE and Mogwai and you’ve not yet listened to 65daysofstatic, get along to a gig. I assure you… you won’t forget it!
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