‘Heat Death Infinity Splitter’ is blasting out of the PA as 65daysofstatic take to the stage in Glasgow tonight.
The boys are out promoting their stupendously gorgeous new record Wild Light – having perfected their sound, while also managing to push boundaries in the domain of instrumental music to stand out against their contemporaries’ Explosions In The Sky, Maybeshewill and Mogwai.
Truly one of the best gigs in terms of the music, sound and visuals, even prompting Joe Shrewsbury to exclaim to the crowd: “I have to admit, it does sound fucking awesome in here tonight” and by god is he right; The Arches seems like the perfect venue for a band of 65daysofstatic’s ilk.
Lights flashing, synths resonating and beats, sounds, lights, enthusiastically-gesticulating band members animated while hammering out a sonic assault loud enough snub out the late night train-tracking commuters at Central.
Live the alternating superimpositions of the electronic/rock elements sit perfectly, consummating in a monolithic juggernaut of controlled chaos.
Sounding better live than on record is no mean feat for any band, but 65daysofstatic easily fall into that special category reserved for the crème-de-le-crème of artistic rarities.
Artistic boundaries are pushed tonight in the sense that it’s just bloody awesome to hear something fresh and played with such vigor and presence, when there are so many gigs that are solely homogenous incentives for folk to get pissed and have shouting conversations trying to play catch-up.
All eyes fixated toward the stage tonight in mesmeric astonishment at what is pulverizing the auditory and visual senses.
As well as being extremely animated on stage, there is a meticulously methodical array of events happening onstage with guitar change-overs, synth playing from every member, drummer Rob Jones playing an electronic kit at one point, and even a few extra bodies (eclipsed) appear onstage from time-to-time to expand the wealth of layered sound waves, all while retaining the perfect balance and thus, preventing overkill.
All combined it encapsulates the hermetically sealed tightness of the band as a unit, with the combined power surge to unleash it in a sustained attack.
There are quieter moments that allow for great dynamic build-ups from massive tracks such as ‘The Undertow’ and ‘Unmake the Wild Light’ and the band also play some classics to keep the fans happy with ‘Retreat! Retreat!’ being a highlight and ‘Radio Protector’ being the biggest highlight of the night, leaving the crowd in absolute awe; tears to glass eyes.
If you were elsewhere tonight, you missed something truly spectacular, something special, everything just clicked perfectly and it is an experience that lives on in the record.
An epic roller coaster of noise and emotions; flawless.
Words: Derek Robertson
Photos: Jayjay Robertson
