Mogwai – Earth Division EP (Sub Pop)

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Having ended up with almost all of Mogwai’ back catalogue over the years, I approached this release in the typical style, preparing myself for an onslaught of distortion and pounding rhythm. What happened next was nothing short of a surprise: piano. Then strings. Nothing else on track one. Next piece: acoustic and voice. What the hell is going on? Had they fired the drummer? Are Glasgow’ finest turning into sensitive singer/songwriters? Fortunately, no and no. As I was to discover, this is a new Mogwai, not afraid to explore new territory and breathe fresh air.

Opening with a distant melancholic piano line, shortly joined by a string quartet following its lead, it’s obvious that this ep is going to be nothing like you’d expect from a “normal’ Mogwai release……. if there is such a thing. A lone electric piano joins in after a while, and together these elements remain the pieces’ only ingredients. “Hound Of Winter’ begins with a gentle acoustic guitar and harmonica, before, shockingly, someone starts to sing. Yes, you read that right. No vocoder, no vocal effects. The string quartet returns, and lift the choruses to lofty heights of mellow grandeur. “Drunk And Crazy’ settles into familiar territory, though not completely, as distorted bass leaps from the speakers straight away. Remarkably, this is the only piece on the EP to feature distorted, well, anything. Slices of looped guitar pick out a rhythm, before everything swiftly disappears, quickly swept under the carpet by the return of strings. Piano joins the fold, hammering out solid chords, before the distortion leaps forth once more and chases the piece to a close. Closer “Does This Always Happen’ sees sparkly clean fingerpicked guitar sing along with piano and strings, the mood sombre yet elegant and restrained without leaning on darker emotion.

This feels very experimental, and was definitely not was I was expecting, but not in a bad way. It certainly feels like they’re exploring new areas of composition they’re not familiar with, and it marks a fresh new era in the bands’ evolution. Like the lion that graces the sleeve, this EP walks alone. Curious, and well worth a listen.

Nick Giles

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