Squid’s latest single, “Building 650,” is a dizzying concoction of post-punk and art rock that defies easy classification. Released ahead of their third album, Cowards (out February 7th, 2025, via Warp Records), the track continues the band’s tradition of bending, breaking, and outright ignoring musical conventions. It’s the sound of a band unafraid to experiment, leaving a trail of songs that somehow shouldn’t work but absolutely do. Add this one to the list.
“Building 650” juxtaposes warm, sweeping string lines with the sharp angularity of Squid’s willfully experimental nature. The track’s edges are razor-sharp—handle with care—but it’s the tension between its chaotic, deconstructed layers and its underlying melodic beauty that makes it so compelling. Like much of Squid’s catalog, the track feels like a controlled collapse: ideas tumbling and colliding, but ultimately landing in a way that grabs hold and won’t let go.
Inspired by vocalist Ollie Judge’s experience as an outsider in Tokyo, “Building 650” captures a sense of bustling alienation. The chaotic energy of Japan’s capital city is reflected in the track’s relentless motion and kaleidoscopic arrangement. But amid the tumult lies a quieter, almost eerie introspection, mirroring the peculiar loneliness Judge describes. The video, filmed in Japan by Felix Geen and local collaborators, beautifully underscores these themes with raw 8mm film and expansive cityscapes.
On Warp Records, one of our favorite labels, Squid continue to rewrite the rulebook. “Building 650” is yet another testament to their unyielding creativity—a track that cuts, swells, and surprises, demanding repeated listens to uncover its dizzying depths.
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