Sonic Power Pop: Mogwai

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Mogwai are a Scottish band formed in 1995 that have become one of the most influential and best known "post-rock" bands. 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.

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 Ashton who had his name changed to Rock Action.

Their style has been influenced by bands including The Dirty Three, Joy Division, The Jesus & 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 are named after the creatures from the film Gremlins, 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.".

Mr Beast, the latest Mogwai album, was released in the UK on 6 March 2006. It returns to the heavier sounds of 1997's Mogwai Young Team. Mogwai produced the remix track of 'Plans' on the British group Bloc Party's 2005 album Silent Alarm Remixed.

Band members
Stuart Braithwaite (guitar)
Dominic Aitchison (bass)
Martin Bulloch (drums)
John Cummings (guitar)
Barry Burns (keyboards, flute, guitar, etc)

(Noteworthy former member: Brendan O’Hare, original drummer of the indie rock band Teenage Fanclub, Telstar Ponies, Fiend and now with Macrocosmica.)

Luke Sutherland (guitar, violin) was never a member of Mogwai, but has often recorded and performed with them.

Discography
Albums
Ten Rapid (1997) - Collected recordings 1996-1997
Mogwai Young Team (1997)
Kicking A Dead Pig (1998) - Remix album, reissued in 2001 with an additional CD containing two extra tracks
Come On Die Young (1999)
EP+6 (2000) - 4 Satin, No Education... and Mogwai:EP on one CD
Rock Action (2001)
Happy Songs for Happy People (2003)
Government Commissions (2005) - BBC Sessions 1996-2003
Mr Beast (2006) #31 UK, #96 AUS, #128 US

EPs
Tuner/Lower (1996)
Angels vs Aliens (1996) - Split EP with Dweeb
Summer (demo) (1996) - Split EP with Urusei Yatsura & Backwater
Summer/Ithica 27φ9 (1996)
New Paths to Helicon, Parts 1 & 2 (1997)
4 Satin (1997)
Club Beatroot, Part 4 (1997) - Split EP with PH Family
Do The Rock Boogaloo (1998) - Split EP with Magoo, covering Black Sabbath songs
No Education = No Future (Fuck the Curfew) (1998) - EP title refers to a youth curfew scheme piloted in a Scottish town where the band recorded their first album
Mogwai:EP (1999)
Travels In Constants Vol. 12 EP (1999) (3 tracks, recorded for Temporary Residence's Travels In Constants series)
US Tour EP (2001) - Split EP with Bardo Pond
My Father My King (2001) - Features only one track, albeit one lasting 20 minutes and 12 seconds (the Australia/New Zealand version also includes two bonus live tracks)
UK/European Tour EP (2001)

Singles
Friend of the Night (2006) #38 UK