An interview with 65dos started with the line “Dance and rock are uneasy bedfellows.”
The Cure’s Robert Smith claimed several years ago that trying to emulate his idols by making cover versions of their songs taught him a lot in the process of making music. Yet, he also claimed, some time later, that the emotion and feeling come from an unknown place, that the process of writing is still a mystery.
That same concept can be applied to many bands. Some times due to pure ignorance, others due to knowing too much and others by simple chance, those who keep evolving never cease to fight. A reason for this is not getting bored but another is sheer curiosity to find new sounds.
In the post-rock spectre, 65dos are, more and more, alone in their approach. Nobody seems to have that sense of variety, rhythm and epic. They showed so to yours truly in 2008, while being supporters for (oh surprise!) The Cure, in Barcelona. Then, they were already different but one wondered where they would go. Something was missing, like when you’re trying to go to the other side of a river trying to understand why there is not a bridge and you definitely don’t want to get wet.
Now in 2013, with their brand new record, Wild Light, they’re touring Europe and when played Amsterdam’s Melkweg on Wednesday, October 2nd, I could see something changed deeply in the band. The emotion changed, the depth changed, the complexity changed, the contrasts were more evident, the immensity was bigger, the precision improved and the intention was more focused.
But in the aftermath of the gig I couldn’t help but comparing them to Apparat (QRO live review in Amsterdam), the band that has deeply impressed me with their Kreig und Frieden record, an adaptation of War and Peace. Apparat looked at pain, desperation, disaster and misery with the hope of them being overcome no matter how, when or how long it’d take, the reward being waking up in a better place, in a better life.
But onstage 65dos’ music gave the impression of a resignation to all those negative feelings; no matter how hard one could fight them, overcome them, and neglect them. They will always stay; they will never go away. People find it surprising that they have a defined political view being as they are an instrumental band. I didn’t know they had one until several days after their Dutch gig.
Now that I know they have one, it all makes more sense. The desolation they show in their melodies echoes that of Fennesz, more than a decade ago, an open space with nothing in it, the same wall in front of you, the apathy that leaves you numb. And there is no remedy for it. At least, not for now. Yes, it’s all epic and noisy and grandiose and electric and strong but it also has a trace of bitterness and coldness. Excellent bitterness and coldness, though.
Maybe one day, things will improve in the world, they will see them and will capture them in their music…
