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Like many other post-rock groups in 2021, Mogwai are in a weird place. The first leg of their illustrious career was full of brand new territory helping define a genre and expand instrumental possibilities with albums like
Young Team (1997),
Rock Action (2001), and even
Mr Beast (2006). But after the mid-2000s, when it seemed the genre had taken a step back, the group made a shift to possibly expand their horizons, delving into movie scores and electronica with records like
Atomic (2016) and
Rave Tapes (2014). With all these new experiences and experiments, one would assume that their music would only improve over time, yet the group keeps coming back to familiar territory in less-effective ways, and
Mogwai - As The Love Continues (Album Review) Monday, 22 February 2021
Photo: Antony Crook
In the biography that comes with ‘As the Love Continues’ comedian Robin Ince writes, “Mogwai are a band of no significant meaning.” And, while that may seem like a jab, it’s hard to argue with him.
As much as the post-rock quartet’s name may suggest a love for Gremlins, it only stuck because they “meant to change it, but never got around to it.” Their in-joke album titles have ranged from ‘Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will’ to ‘The Hawk Is Howling’. Plus, their luminescent compositions largely have no lyrics to convey any messaging.
Reviews / / 17 · 02 · 2021
Mogwai are a busy band. Many acts nearing the end of their third decade would be forgiven for slowing their pace, for being selective in their output, and even for running out of ideas. Not Mogwai. This will be their fourth studio album in the last 10 years - a decade which has also seen them release three EPs, two live albums, a lovingly compiled six LP best-of, one remix album, and five original scores - albums which themselves have been critically acclaimed in their own right.
Originally set to be recorded in the US, the pandemic of 2020 saw the band relocate to the Worcestershire countryside, while producer Dave Fridmann worked remotely from across the Atlantic. An unusual setup, in an unusual year, but the results are startlingly focussed; ‘As The Love Continues’ sees Mogwai cover diverse sonic ground, drawing from many of their most interesting and successful creative peaks from previous albums.
Credit: Antony Crook
Mogwai have evolved into a collective of reputable soundtrack composers over the last 15 years. Ever since they first scored the captivating
Zidane: A 21st Century
Portrait documentary in 2006, which tracked the movements of the eccentric ex-French footballer during a 90 minute match, the Scottish post-rockers have built up an impressive portfolio that includes the haunting
Les Revenants soundtrack in 2013 and, more recently, Sky Italian crime drama
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The first four tracks on their 10th studio album âAs The Love Continuesâ furrow that same moody cinematic path. It was recorded remotely via Zoom with The Flaming Lips producer Dave Fridmann and frontman Stuart Braithwaite recently told