MOGWAI
Government Commissions: BBC Sessions 1996-2003 (Matador Records)
Reviewed by Sherman Wick

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Mogwai is an intriguing band. The Glasgow, Scotland group brilliantly manipulates the textures of music from the softest and most sublime to the harshest white noise. They compose music with guitars, bass, drums and modern technology employed to create powerful and beautiful soundscapes akin to elements of the Velvet Underground, My Bloody Valentine and Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Always a pleasure to see and hear live, they are recorded live for the first time on a series of broadcasts by the late John Peel and the BBC.

"Hunted By a Freak" is definitely among the band's best tracks. Multiple guitar tracks jangle along before erupting as a high-pitched otherworldly vocoder sings essentially inaudible vocal lines in the background. In musical but not qualitative contrast, there is the lovely lapsteel playing and singing on "Cody" or the Popol Vuh-like minimalism of "Secret Pint" with its tribal drumbeat. Then there's "Like Herod," an over 18-minute louder-than-hell guitar workout. It effectively captures the feel of the group live at a show. The range of the band makes it difficult to pigeonhole them as well as providing an adventurous listening experience.

Government Commissions is a fine overview of Mogwai's music, although it lacks the sonic near perfection of the band's records or the intensely loud beauty of large venue live performances. As a best-of package, there are numerous additional songs that could have been performed at the BBC. Mogwai is an album-oriented band, and filler is not found on their records. If you enjoy this record, give Come on Die Young, Rock Action and Happy Songs For Happy People a listen too.

© 2005 - Sherman Wick