Mogwai - Zidane OST (Pias)
3/5
By: Thomas Hannan
I'm struggling, even at this early stage, struggling to imagine a way in which this could really fit the film. The music is clever, and so is Zidane, and so is the beautiful way in which the film is shot (from the few clips I've seen). But this is very, very sad music, and there's nothing particularly sad about the subject matter. The star is not a tortured genius. He's a very, very, very well paid genius. Cheer up.
Maybe I'm meant to think things like 'Terrific Speech 2' are slow and considered like Zissou's own game, or the way things have been shot. I don't know. I know that it's very nice, in that way that Mogwai make songs like this pleasant - it's Mogwainice. And this is the band at their most Mogwainice - doing only the quiet bits, avoiding most noise, and as such not really delivering a proper Mogwai record because they never let the songs go where they want to - in to the stratosphere. They never truly let go.
So whilst due to its sombre nature I can't quite imagine it as a soundtrack, I can't imagine it as a proper Mogwai record either. Yes, it sounds a hell of a lot like Mogwai, it sounds exactly as you'd expect Mogwai trying to be cinematic to sound, except not quite as good because they're not being as daring as you want them to be. It's not wholly of their ownership - it's a soundtrack. They're literally just the background music here. They're brilliant at it, but it certainly doesn't make for their best record.
Take some examples. 'I Do Have Weapons' is limp, the kind of thing Mogwai would have once let boil over, yet here barely allow to simmer. You're not meant to be concentrating on it though. Eyes on the screen. Pay attention. '7:25' which annoyingly only lasts 5:13 might have some merit in a cinematic setting, but other than that it could have been on any Mogwai record ever, or the work of a lesser band aiming for the greatness this bunch have so consistently achieved. It's for this reason that this record is a funny one to judge - it's only half the picture. In that there is no picture.
You see, this isn't really a record. It's a frame missing a picture; book ended rather nicely though it is with 'Black Spider' parts one and two (some highlights, truth told). A lot of things have different parts here, beginnings and ends. It has a middle - there's the brilliant rumble of 'Half Time', but even that has its second part in 'Time and a Half'. There's 'Terrific Speech Part 1', a song which comes two tracks after its second part for no apparent reason, and is basically the same song with some odd string noises added. I wonder if they're trying to tell a story with sound, or fit the sound to the story? I'll never know.
'Wake up and Go Berserk' finds Mogwai doing nothing of the sort - it's them actually trying something a little different, utilising atmospheric soundscapes and acoustic plucking about. Much more of a soundtrack feel. Much more of a success. Towards the end of the match / film, Zidane of course gets sent off (presumably the pleasant if inessential drone of 'It Would Have Happened Anyway' is near the end of the record to accompany this) - but Mogwai keep on playing, even though nobody's watching. All we have to do now is listen. Thank God - because right at the end it's finally getting truly worthwhile - of course, being cantankerous bastards, it's on a bonus track and it lasts nearly half an hour. And it's a drone - one long drone. But this is it - this is Mogwai trying something different. They couldn't have done it in the actual soundtrack. But this is them on their own terms. This might be where they go next. If so, brace yourselves. Here's the release, here's the noise, here's the controlled clamour, here's man's mastery over machine. Here's the echo of the Big Bang as covered by a Scottish guitar group.
Despite the multifarious values of 'Zidane', you can't escape that on it (apart from that bonus song) Mogwai are running out of ideas, they're running around in circles. Thank Christ then, for their sakes, that the sound of their confused little Scottish feet hitting the floor aimlessly will never, ever fail to make a record devoid of merit.
Your Feedback
Login to post your comment