Album Review: 65DaysOfStatic - We Were Exploding Anyway/Heavy Sky

Originally released overseas back in 2010, Bird's Robe have grabbed the Australian distribution rights to 65daysofstatic's back catalogue and are giving everyone who missed this brilliant 2010 album and EP a chance to find out what they missed the first time around.

Originally a straight instrumental post-rock band, albeit one of the better ones, 65daysofstatic made a significant shift with We Were Exploding Anyway, moving heavily into the realms of processed electronics. Pulsing electronic bass, catchy arpeggios and perfectly scattered drums create a pounding beast of an album, while the careful layering and intricate builds that have been a hallmark of the band make sure that it rewards repeat listening and unfolds under headphones. Despite the underlying delicacy, the superficial simplicity to stand-out tracks like Mountainhead, Crash Tactics and Weak4 would make them sound appropriate in a club; a rare and impressive combination.

The Heavy Sky EP, a collection of outtakes from the sessions that produced the main album has been expanded and included here. Already a solid addendum, with genre experimentations that were always interesting even when they didn't quite work,  the new version features six extra tracks and while they're not all great, a couple of them – After San Francisco and the Sleepmakeswaves version of Tiger Girl – are excellent additions to the band's oeuvre.

65daysofstatic have crafted something quite unique here and, upon relistening, the album has aged remarkably well. Combining the slow builds and explosive climaxes of their roots with a dancefloor sensibility, this was one of the best albums of 2010. For those new to the records, it should be similarly acclaimed in 2012.