Labels: Chemikal Underground
Review by: Andy Malcolm
So, after thousands of urges from our on & off reviewer Dan Baker, I eventually get around to picking up a Mogwai record. I can now finally understand why he kept telling me to do so.
First thing I was in awe of was how incredible the production was. You never really notice it, listening to bands who don’t want or can’t afford a nice studio and a super producer, so you get used to records that don’t sound anything like perfect. Forget all that here, this sounds huge! Oh, and before I forget, I’m not sure how much of a departure this is from previous Mogwai stuff, so please let me off.
For starters, I think this is the closest any UK band has been to getting anywhere near the hallowed brilliance of Christie Front Drive. Admittedly, Mogwai have no vocals and aren’t really going too far in the CFD direction, but they do similiarily emote a most wonderful, warm sound that certainly works for me. And all the songs are really long. Opening up, “Stanley Kubrick” is slow and enveloping. Very spacey, and quite similar in style to the tracks from the Antarctica CDEP. “Christmas Song” is quite aptly named, though not in a cheesy sense. Lots of twinkly piano and chimes with a bit of synths or something. Another one that is slow to develop. Super pleasant, which I understand is not exactly the feeling that their last album gives off. More wintery slowness on “Burn Girl Prom Queen” which has some brass on it. This seriously reminds me of someone, but I can’t figure who. And finally, “Rage: Man” with an intro straight from the CFD school, twinkle twinkle goes a guitar, as someone brushes the cymbals in the background. Does develop a bit differently, introducing some more piano, then suddenly someone starts up an aircraft engine on stage as everything gets noisier. Then it gets turned off and everything calms down and wanders off to the end.
As I said, I’ve never heard much Mogwai before, but this EP is pretty damn great. Get it on giant 12″ format to say no to evil CD’s.