Jump to content

Mogwai

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Hurball (talk | contribs) at 20:10, 10 December 2007 (Controversy section added). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

For the Swiss progressive house producer who releases under the name Moogwai, see Chab.
Mogwai

Mogwai are a Scottish band from Glasgow, United Kingdom. Formed by Stuart Braithwaite and Dominic Aitchison in 1995, Mogwai has since become one of the most influential and best known names in post-rock.[citation needed]

They compose lengthy instrumental guitar-based pieces in the post-rock tradition, usually focused around the elaboration of a single theme, and are known traditionally for dynamic contrast, melodic bass riffs, and their use of guitar distortion and effects. Stuart Braithwaite has commented on the lack of lyrics within Mogwai's music, saying:

I think most people are not used to having no lyrics to focus on. Lyrics are a real comfort to some people. I guess they like to sing along and when they can't do that with us they can get a bit upset.[1]

The band were originally signed to renowned Glasgow indie label Chemikal Underground, but are now distributed by different labels, such as Matador in the US and Play It Again Sam Records in the UK. They have also developed their own label, Rock Action Records, named after Stooges drummer Scott Asheton, who had his name changed to Rock Action.[2]

Their style has been influenced by bands including The Dirty Three, Joy Division, Pink Floyd, The Jesus and Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine, and post-rock pioneers Slint. During 2004 the band supported tours by two major influences, Pixies and The Cure. Mogwai's style has easily identifiable connections to genres like shoegaze, math rock, art rock, and occasionally instrumental metal. While their sound bears little resemblance to traditional punk rock, the band seems to identify closely with the punk ethic.

Mogwai is named after the creatures from the film Gremlins (also means "devil" in Chinese), although guitarist Stuart Braithwaite comments that "it has no significant meaning and we always intended on getting a better one, but like a lot of other things we never got 'round to it."[2]

History

Stuart Braithwaite and Dominic Aitchison originally met at a gig for Ned's Atomic Dustbin in April 1991, and four years later added old schoolfriend Martin Bulloch to their ranks, forming the band Mogwai in the process. Stuart had been playing lead guitar in a band called "Deadcat Motorbike" up until that point. After playing a few shows the band expanded with the introduction of John Cummings on guitar, and Teenage Fanclub drummer Brendan O'Hare joined whilst they recorded their debut album Mogwai Young Team.

O'Hare left after the release of the album, before Barry Burns was brought prior to the recording of Come On Die Young, the band's second album. He had already played a few shows with the band, as a flautist and as an occasional pianist. According to Stuart, the reason Barry was invited into the band was because he was a good laugh.[2] Since 1998, and for the recording of every album since Mogwai Young Team, the band line up has remained unchanged.

Controversy

The band have never been shy to state their opinions, especially with regards to other musicians and bands. In a recent example, Stuart sarcastically described Annie Lennox's album title Songs of Mass Destruction as "really topical," and a title that was "so half-arsed it makes "Mr. Beast" sound cerebral."[3] Braithwaite also had a dig at the group Test Icicles after their split, saying "they've only been going for about three bloody weeks!"[4]

Perhaps Mogwai's most infamous feud has been against the band Blur. With both bands headlining at the Glastonbury Festival in 1999, Mogwai began printing t-shirts emblazoned with the words "blur: are shite" across the front. The first run of shirts sold out in a single day, and Stuart claimed the shirts showed a "dictionary definition" of Blur.[5] The Mogwai website has also carried tirades against Damon Albarn and Gorillaz from time to time.

James Blunt is another musician the band have created rifts with in the past, with Barry Burns claiming to have "spewed blood down dirty toilets with more talent than [him]," and that "his voice is annoying." Burns also took aim at the online music critic source Pitchfork Media, saying that Pitchfork’s staff were "not music fans" but rather a "bunch of website geeks."[6]

Discography

Main article: Mogwai discography

In the Media

Mogwai's tracks have been used extensively in the media, and a number of tracks appear in film, television, and video game soundtracks.

Film

"Burn Girl Prom Queen", "Christmas Steps", "Ex-Cowboy", and "Travel is Dangerous" are used in the documentary White Light/Black Rain: The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. "Auto Rock" and "We're No Here" (from their 2006 album Mr. Beast) were included in Michael Mann's 2006 film Miami Vice, and "Auto Rock" also appeared in the trailer for the Jodie Foster film The Brave One.

The track "I Know You Are But What Am I?" appeared on the soundtrack of Wicker Park, "Christmas Song" was used in the film The Girl Next Door, "Secret Pint" was used in the Michael Moore film Sicko, and "Hunted by a Freak" was used in the soundtrack for the film The Football Factory. Finally, the track "Take me Somewhere Nice" features in the 2005 Larry Clark film Wassup Rockers.

Two remixes of Mogwai tracks, taken from the remix album Kicking a Dead Pig, also make appearances in films, with the Kid Loco's Playing with the Young Team Remix of "Tracy" being used in the Emerica - This Is Skateboarding (2003) credits. Also, a remix of "Mogwai Fear Satan" is used in the David Gordon Green film All the Real Girls

Mogwai have also penned original recordings for the big screen, creating the soundtrack for Douglas Gordon's Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait in 2006. The film was hailed as "The finest film at Cannes" by The Observer, and was also shown at the Edinburgh International Film Festival.[7] The band also worked on the original score music for the film The Fountain, composed by Clint Mansell and the Kronos Quartet.[8]

Television

"We're No Here" was used in the episode "Cyberwoman" of the BBC sci-fi series Torchwood. The track was also used in the third episode of the ninth series of Top Gear, along with "Auto Rock", as the Top Gear team went on a road trip in the United States. The BBC used two more Mogwai tracks on their programmes, with both "Hunted by a Freak" and "Mogwai Fear Satan" featuring in the corporation's Ultimate Rock Climb.

CSI: Miami has also used Mogwai's tracks from time to time. "We're No Here" and "Auto Rock" were included in episode "Rio", and tracks "I Know You Are But What Am I" and "Like Herod" were used in episodes "Homebodies" and "Spark of Life" respectively. Another track, "Tracy", was used in the CSI: Miami episode "Hurricane Anthony".

"Take Me Somewhere Nice" and "Kids Will Be Skeletons" were used in the sixth season of Sex and the City,[9] while "Close Encounters" was used in the fourth season.[10] "Take Me Somewhere Nice" was also used in The Shield in its first-season episode "Pay in Pain". Another episode in the first season, "Dragonchasers", used the Mogwai song "New Paths to Helicon, Pt. 1".

"New Paths to Helicon, Pt. 1" was also used in the third episode of the first season of Friday Night Lights. "Hunted by a Freak" was used frequently in the reality television show The X Factor, in addition to appearing in the 2007 US drama series Life.

The title track from "Come on Die Young", "Cody", was used in the second episode of the first season of Skins as well as the BBC drama Coming Down The Mountain (coincidentally starring Nicholas Hoult). Finally, "Take Me Somewhere Nice", "Christmas Song" and "2 Rights Make 1 Wrong" were used in various Queer as Folk (US) episodes.

Games

At least two video games have included Mogwai tracks on their soundtracks. "Hunted by a Freak" was on the soundtrack to Major League Baseball 2K6, and Glasgow Mega-Snake features on the video game Tony Hawk's Project 8.

References

  1. ^ The Express Interview with Mogwai
  2. ^ a b c "FAQ". mogwai.co.uk. 2006.
  3. ^ Mogwai News
  4. ^ Drowned in Sound - Mogwai on stuff
  5. ^ Pigdog Journal - Blur: Are Shite
  6. ^ The All Time Lows: Mogwai Interview
  7. ^ "Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait". edfilmfest.org.uk. Retrieved on 28 January, 2007.
  8. ^ The Fountain trailer
  9. ^ Sex and the City episode 77 music guide
  10. ^ Sex and the City episode 64 music guide
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mogwai.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mogwai&oldid=177053721"