Live Review: Mogwai, Mill Volvo Tyne Theatre, Newcastle (22/01/2014)

The first thing which strikes you about Mogwai's live show isn't their visual impact, stage presence or sheer volume, but rather the mountainous technical setup by which they're surrounded. Opening their latest world tour at the Newcastle's Mill Volvo Tyne Theatre, the Glaswegians adorned the stage with stacks of keyboards, synths, drumkits and no less than 40 effects pedals; while their guitar tech sweated for his money, frantically readying fresh instruments for each and every new song. The quintet themselves, meanwhile, thoroughly justified the price of admission in a display of poise and proficiency very much befitting one of post rock's definitive acts.

Album Review: Mogwai - Rave Tapes

Album Rating: B

It's easy to forget in 2014 that listening to Mogwai once felt like domesticating a dangerous animal. Sure this specimen was docile for the most part and carried a sense of serene worldly beauty, but its presence always brought with it an underlying tension; a realisation that at any given moment it could revert to type, wreaking havoc with its terrifying array of natural weaponry. Now, though, the beast is well and truly tamed. It can still be prone to the odd noisy temper tantrum, however, the sense of dread precursing these outbursts has long since dissipated, as have their volatility and sheer explosive power. Unfortunately, the aura and majesty surrounding the creature have faded slightly together with its destructive tendencies. These days, it simply resembles another item of furniture - still dearly beloved, yet somewhat taken for granted, and certainly missing the thrill and danger of years gone by.

Artist of the Day: Mogwai

If you follow Stuart Braithwaite on Twitter, you'll be more than familiar with his stance in the debate regarding Scottish independence. An adamant YES campaigner, the past year has seen the Mogwai leader's name surface in political analysis as opposed to music forums; his voice gracing public debates, mainstream television and online podcasts as the case for separation has slowly gathered pace. He's certainly embraced the role, but luckily for fans it's not come at the expense of his day job, with he and his bandmates having spent much of 2013 writing, recording and agonising over their eighth studio album. Complete, confirmed and ready to roll, Rave Tapes will see the light of day on 20 January, just short of three years since its predecessor, Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will hit shelves. With a terrific teaser, "Remurdered" already doing the rounds, the stage is set for further confirmation of the Glaswegian's place among the post-rock elite. Indeed, with this pending release, tour plans already in place and Scottish independence looking more likely by the day, it's fair to predict that 2014 will be a year for Mogwai and Braithwaite to remember.

Mat's Albums and EPs of 2012

2012 was a great year for post-metal. Half of the albums on my list had something to do with post-metal, and I surprised myself by having two emo albums on there. However, my list pretty much explains itself, so I think it's better to follow through and read each description rather than explaining the list in the blurb up top. It is slightly important to note that I included some EPs I found notable, and separated the lists, rather than mash everything into one list. Click on the album or EP name to read our coverage.

Artist Of The Day: Mogwai

On MuzikDizcovery, one might hear of Mogwai just a bit too much. However, our job is to keep you, the reader, informed on recent music news, and if there's anything Mogwai has been in the past couple months, "active" is most certainly a good word to use. The band released a compilation of remixes; A Wrenched, Virile Lore was commissioned by the band themselves from other artists such as post-punk project The Soft Moon, space-rock band Zombi, and drone's Tim Hecker. The album was fairly well received, and definitely helped bring new, altered sounds of the famous post-rock band into different genres. I particularly enjoyed Hecker's rendition of "Rano Pano," with drone being something I'm not particularly used to, while the Soft Moon cover of "San Pedro" wasn't really a far cry from the original track, so it was much enjoyed as well.

However, it's the new EP that will bring a lot of attention to the band in late 2012 / early 2013. According to Clash Music, Les Revenants is an EP that Mogwai was commissioned to "construct a soundtrack to French series 'Les Revenants'." The EP consists of four tracks, most of which are fairly low-action, similar to the Earth Division EP the band put out last year. "Wizard Motor" attracts interest being fairly upbeat; "Soup" is a bass-heavy, one-minute interlude; "The Huts" is a haunting piano-and-drum centered piece; and "This Messiah Needs Watching" features an organ laying down melancholy chords while a xylophone rings out a melody, echoic and depressing. Sounds on par with what we'd expect from the band. This EP will be seeing a physical release sometime next month, but it has received its digital release already, so keep an eye out for it.

Visit their site here to keep up with further updates.

Artist Of The Day: Mogwai

Ladies and gentlemen, friends, fans of Muzik Dizcovery, members of the proletariat, British loyalists, haters to the post-rock name, and the rest of you, we all have differences in opinions throughout our individual walks of life. One thing we can all agree to, though, is that 2012 has been, and continues to be, a year of change. With our (talking United States here, so Canadian / British / other worldly regions please read on) political regime potentially undergoing our tetrannual tradition this November, a scare incurred on how the free world is openly receiving information through the Internet, and some gripe about some 5,000-year-old prediction about the end of humanity, things like this can be kind of scary to think about. Things we perceive to be as constant are ever undergoing small changes, and eventually become things that we don't understand, or fear. Such is the case with the musical style of Mogwai, and as I've reviewed Mogwai before, I wanted to discuss my opinions about the band whose music I've come to hold so dear.

Eli's Best Extended Plays of 2011

I know, I know.  I'm a bit late to the party, especially considering I wasn't even going to talk about last year's EPs.  But in revisiting some of 2011's best extended play records, I could not sit idle by without telling everyone how exceptional last year was in regards to high quality EPs.  If you haven't picked any of these up, it goes without saying that they come highly recommended, and make for great listens before 2012 really heats up.  So, without furth ado...

Sean's Top 10 Albums of 2011

10 | Giraffes? Giraffes! - Pink Magick

The demented and chaotic nature of Giraffes? Giraffes! third full length, Ping Magick, is accurately described in just about everything concerning the album except for the music. everything from the absurd track titles to the pretty pink and green explosion of an album cover captures everything that Pink Magick is all about. The band consists of nothing but a guitarist and a drummer, but the monstrosity of tracks such as "DRGNFKR" sounds like something that could not have been done by two musicians alone. Pick Magick is an extraordinary accomplishment for math rock and is easily one of the finest works to come out of this year.

Mat's Top Releases of 2011

There have been a lot of releases that I didn't expect to end up on here, and a fair share that should have been on here, but didn't make it. I'm as surprised as you, dear reader. But no matter - this is my list. You may not agree, but at least listen to what I have to say before you shout profanities at me. Read below for albums including those by Across Waters, Russian Circles, Moonlit Sailor, Tides From Nebula, and many more.

A Year in Post-Rock: 2011

To be quite honest, 2011 has been a fairly mild year for top tier post-rock releases. No Mono, no Godspeed You! Black Emperor (called it), and no Pg. Lost. Sadly missing, sure, but that isn’t to say that 2011 has been a complete bust for the genre. In fact, this year, more so than ever in recent memory, bands have been breaking the mold, and setting off on paths that progress the genre even further. There have been a lot of breaths of fresh air imbued into the tired formula, creating a wonderful bevy of albums that have made 2011 one hell of an excellent year for post-rock. Here is just a sample:

Mogwai - Earth Division:
Alright, alright, this may not be the Mogwai release that you were expecting. However, their latest album, Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will, left a lot to be desired. This little gem of an EP sounds somewhat different than anything else the band has done before. It’s lush and beautiful; a record that relies less on gimmicks, and more on the sheer excellence of Mogwai. A true stand out.

Album Review: Mogwai - Earth Division EP

As a few of you may have remembered from before, I posted some news about Mogwai's Earth Division EP, and how excited I was about it. When I finally got my hands on it, I popped it right in, and...it felt different. Very different. Good different. When Stuart Braithwaite and the rest of Mogwai say they want to escape their label of post-rock, they're able to achieve it with this EP. Much of Earth Division focuses a lot less on the whole soundscape and multi-layered construction of songs, and concentrates on the instrumentation and the music.

Artist Spotlight: Mogwai - Earth Division EP

It looks like Glasgow-based post-rock band Mogwai is having a good year. With their 7th studio album, Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will (review here) receiving critical acclaim, the band sets off to continue to impress and improve with the Earth Division EP. According to a Sub Pop release, we can expect the EP to be somewhat of a departure from their standard, pounding guitar riffs to a quieter, more hazy and less focused sound to include classical instruments like violins, violas, cellos, and double bass. With lots on the horizon, we hope that Mogwai will retain at least a portion of their classic, beloved sound, but as with experimental bands, it never truly is the same every time. However, the post tells us that the EP "might offer the listener something different, but it still carries the band's hallmarks", so until September, all we can do is sit and wait.

The EP comes out September 12th on Rock Action and September 13th on Sub Pop.

Album Review: Mogwai - Hardcore Will Never Die But You Will

In progression from The Hawk Is Howling in 2008, it seems as if post-rock group Mogwai has shifted their musical focus when one first inserts this new record. However, the experimental side of the Glasgow-based project really comes out on Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will. For the traditional fan of the band, the most surprising aspect of the album is a larger emphasis of the spoken word, provided by Luke Sutherland and Domenico Loiacano on “Mexican Grand Prix” and “George Square Thatcher Death Party.” The ambient effect provided from vocals is a new taste from their usual works, but is woven in impeccably with the dramatic buildup and release in each song, working a current of sound that moves the listener at his core.