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ROCK MOGWAI The Hawk is Howling
(Wall of SOund) 000
The linebetween familiarity and contempt is drawn thinner than ever currently, but Mogwai, six albums and 12 years in, seem in no danger of
wearing out their welcome.
Given how limiting the initial wordless loud- quiet-loud grind on which they barbecued their rock loins seemed, they’ve squeezed a whole rainbow of shades and colours from it with style, skill and no shortage of humour. They continue on this musical trajectory on The Hawk is Howling with more variations on these themes, a tactic that seems to work pretty damn well for them.
‘Batcat’ is the beastly rock song Slint might have made had they stopped mumbling into their Miller Lites and loosened up and threw down for us, ‘Local Authority’ is a perfect diffused star, blinking from a galaxy far, far away, while ‘The Sun Smells Too Loud’ is a novel change of pace, enjoying twinkling synth lines and an almost cheery
sensibility.
with contemporary material. much of it their own. Their empathic interplay comes over strongly when it is just the harps that are featured. although an expanded ensemble featuring fiddle, banjo. double bass and drums is employed to good effect on some of the tracks.
(Kenny Mathieson)
POP
BRIAN WILSON That Lucky Old Sun (EMl/Capitol) 000
There's no disputing Brian Wilson's genius — Beach Boy's classic Pet 80unds is proof alone — and it's wonderful to have him back from his self-imposed exile; performing live (partiCUlarly his joyous set at T in the Park in 2007) and releasing music. in the form of ‘lost classic' SMiLE. But while it's great to
see a new studio album.
there's no progression from work he was doing way back in the 60s. That Lucky Old Sun shimmers with uplifting summer vibes. but somehow feels stuck in a time warp, and compared to the towering majesty of his earlier work. it can't help but Suffer in comparison.
(Henry Northmore)
PSYCHEDELIC FOLK PUMAJAW Curiosity Box
(Fire) 0000
Is this thing on? That's what you might be asking yourself as the first album for Fire by Fence Collective
There are moments that by their own definition are ‘very Mogwai’ - something that sounds profoundly stupid initially - but do find the band relying on recognizable forms and tricks to engage. ‘Scotland’s Shame’ fails but ‘The Precipice’, ‘I’m Jim Morrison, I’m Dead’ (anyone spot the Bill Hicks tribute here?) and ‘Danphe and the Brain’ throw out familiar shapes to considerable effect. ‘Thank You Space Expert’ and ‘Kings Meadow’ do relatively little, quite beautifully, like something Pete Namlook might drum up on one of his friskier ambient adventures while ‘I Love You, I’m Going to Blow Up Your School’ might sound worryingly Columbine in its ambitions, but is however a keen reflection of a song that holds one of the few moments of genuine bombast and terror here.
The Hawk is Howling sounds like a band in transience, assured that they know what they can do, but unsure just where to take it next. There has never been a definitive Mogwai album, they’ve spread their true gems pretty evenly over the last 12 years. The Hawk is Howling adds a few more to the trove. (Mark Robertson)
affiliates Pinkie Maclure and John Wills kicks in. Against the picking of a lone guitar, shimmering bells and whispered vocals far off in the background. the dial needs to go right up to hear even a vague impression of the duo's spectral loveliness.
This album is lovely though. growing towards a charming folk rock set whose most vividly commercial passages remain offset by Maclure's eccentric vocalising — imagine Sandy Denny if she had made her music in the Haight. So central are Maclure's vocals to the record, in fact. that even
guest appearances from James Yorkston and Alasdair Roberts can't begin to overshadow them. (David Pollock)
METAL METALLICA Death Magnetic (Vertigo) 000
That Metallica have become metal's answer to the Rolling Stones - an endlessly t0uring megalith who's albums have be come increasingly irrelevant as their live shows have become greater spectacles — should not negate getting the most out of this 75 minutes of heads down thrash. There's a trillion takers out there Currently trying to make a living out of successfully aping the incisive dynamics. relentless riffing. caustic soloing and doom- focussed imagery that Metallica pioneered in the 80s. so why can’t they? They give it a
shot. foregoing ‘Enter Sandman' crowd pleasing for a belligerent pomp metal spectacle.
Drummer Lars Ulrich remains a one— dimensional percussive force that limits the expansion of the Metallica blueprint into any new sonic territOry and James Hetfield's confessional lyrical meditations remain firmly on the wrong side of pastiche. But. if you can take being mocked by hipsters. naysayers and back-in-the day merchants. the broad strokes Death Magnetic offers more than ample unashamed riffage. (Mark Robertson)
lTALO DISCO HEARTBREAK Lies
(Lex) so...
Heartbreak, where have you been all my life? It seems only fair to point out — before excessive scenester fawning turns the increasingly reSurgent ltalo disco SOund into a mutated make-believe genre of new rave propOrtions — that this pair are pretty special.
Comprised of British producer Ali Renault and Argentinean singer Sebastian Muravchik, the duo look like continental playboys from 1983 and make music which sounds like the Scissor Sisters as produced by Giorgio Moroder. From the posing pouch high camp of ‘We're Back‘ to the retro dynamism of 'Give Me Action' and the austere delight which runs through ‘Regret' and ‘Soul Transplant'. every track is a mini pop classic and a dancefloor stormer in one.
(David Pollock)
Flags 8. Feathers The Other Side of Morning (Lucky Number Nine) Tom Davis used to make rowdy garage blues with Dead Fly Buchowski, but this debut from his new Glasgow-based band, Rags & Feathers is an altogether gentler affair, full of lush, folky arrangements and a hint of Gram Parsons' c0untry sound.
Kat Flint Dirty Birds (Albino) This Barbados-born, Scotland-raised alt- folk singer has waited tables. sewn sock puppets and told ghost stories to make ends meet while she slowly built up her music career. Expect twinkly. soulful lullabies from her debut album. The Black Seeds Solid Ground (Sonar Ko/lectiv) lt seems the Kiwis can't get enough of this funked-up reggae- dub outfit. and made their debut album a gold selling smash. A decade on, the eight-piece from Wellington. New Zealand return with more roots reggae and vintage afro- beats.
Keyboard Choir Mizen Head to Gascanane Sound (Brain/ave) These Oxford electronic prog-rockers can count Brian Eno and Foals among their growing army of fans. Don't be put off by the mouthful of a title. Try this laptop— built debut for symphonic — slightly trippy — dream sequences of electronica. Vessels White Fields and Open Devices (Cuckundoo) Big metal soundscapes. and softer indie- meets-folk guitars can be found on this warm. atmospheric debut from the Leeds five-piece that have been busy supporting Caribou and Efterklang.
18 Sep—2 Oct 2008 THE LIST B7