Review
65DAYSOFSTATIC – SILENT RUNNING
Released 14th November 2011 (Dustpunk Records)
Words: Richard Heaven
The last couple of years has seen a rise in major bands working alongside film makers to release fresh and exciting soundtracks. From the almost destined partnership of Tron and Daft Punk to the strange but successful Trent Reznor/The Social Network partnership 2010 was a great year for lovers of movies and music alike. So what has 2011 given us?
To put it simply, 2011 has gone one better and given us 65Daysofstatic’s take on the classic sci-fi film Silent Running. Originally written for two shows, demand was so high that 65dos spent the year taking it to select events and, understandably, into the studio.
After the dance-orientated ‘We Were Exploding Anyway’ this is a refreshing return to a slightly more traditional 65dos sound. The glitchyness of the earlier albums has returned even though the guitar work is rarely as abrasive as those featured of The Fall Of Math. Neither a dance or punk heavy sound would have suited Silent Runnings and I think that this has forced 65dos to become even more creative then ever.
Overture is an extremely moving piece which ebbs and flows before building to a melodic crescendo, setting the tone for the album to come. Broken Ship Ruse would sit quite comfortably alongside Default This in the live setting while Burial Scene is one of the albums most intense tracks despite being a largely piano based affair.
It’s clear that 65daysofstatic have gone beyond the task of soundtracking Silent Running to make an album which could be considered a worthy next step for the band. When the last forty years has seen the word ‘soundtrack’ linked to ‘easy pay check’ it’s refreshing to see a band take the task to heart so readily and produce an album as moving as this. If this is the static of 2011 then I’m more then happy to listen to the white noise.
