RockFeedback

Mogwai

14.02.11

BIOGRAPHY

Since their inception in 1995, Mogwai have been ever-present on the alternative rock scene, both here and abroad, managing to retain their place at alt-rock’s top table through a stream of critically acclaimed albums, and a ferocious live show that has earned them legions of fans from all over the world.

After choosing to name themselves after a creature from Gremlins, the original band of Stuart Braithwaite (guitar, vocals), Dominic Aitchison (bass), Martin Bulloch (drums) and John Cummings (guitar) released a stream of very well received singles before recording their debut LP Mogwai Young Team. The album was lauded as a landmark post-rock album, although the band dislike the term, saying it suggests an over-analysis of the music. Whatever the band think, their debut demonstrated a knack with dynamics and melody that would endear them to fans of Fugazi and Sonic Youth.

The follow-up, 1999’s Come On Die Young provided a more ambient experience than their first, although punctuations of distortion-heavy segments prevented alienating fans they had made with their debut. The album was the first appearance for fifth member Barry Burns, and was named after a Glasgow gang, continuing an association started with their debut (a ‘Young Team’ is a Scottish term for a local gang, think ‘Crew’ if you’re from London in 2011).

Their combative personality came to the fore in the run-up to the release of their third album Rock Action, when their now infamous feud with Blur began. Their ‘Blur: are shite’ t-shirts are now things of legend, with Braithwaite threatening to print ‘Blur: are shite once again’ t-shirts to er…celebrate Blur’s recent reformation. Other targets have included Axl Rose and Robbie Williams, with one magazine suggesting that Mogwai wanted Robbie to “Shoot himself where the sun don’t shine then bleed to death”. Bit harsh?

With their music regularly described as ‘cinematic’, it was only a matter of time before they were asked to make a film soundtrack. 2006’s Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait gave them their opportunity, and earned them very positive reviews for their efforts. Aside from their music, the band have set up their own label, Rock Action Records, which is now home to a number of quality bands such as Part Chimp and Errors, who regularly support Mogwai on their tours.

Their new release, the brilliantly-titled Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will adds another weapon to their arsenal of killer albums, keeping up their extraordinary record of consistency across their back catalogue. As with their more recent albums, there are more nods to their electronic influences than with their earlier work, but have toned down some of the heavier sounds heard on Mr Beast and The Hawk is Howling. There is also a return of vocals, although in a very limited capacity, making it potentially the most accessible Mogwai album for a while.

Most of the bands you would associate with post-rock would be lying if they said Mogwai hadn’t had a large influence on them, with bands like Explosions in the Sky and iLiKETRAiNS listing them as direct influences. To recycle a quote from Stuart Braithwaite himself, many bands who count themselves as ‘art-rock’ forget to actually rock, an affliction Mogwai have very deliberately managed to avoid, and just one of the reasons why they’re still going as strong as ever at album number seven.

Links

Tour Dates

14^th Feb - Galway, Radisson Hotel

15^th Feb - Dublin, Olympia Theatre

17^th Feb - Bournmouth, O2 Academy

18^th Feb - Cardiff, Cardiff University

19^th Feb - Bristol, O2 Academy