Wednesday, 3 September 2008

Review - Mogwai - Batcat

Mogwai - Batcat

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8 out of 10

The world's most orchestral users of fuzz release their next studio album, The Hawk Is Howling, at the end of September. Has it really been over two years since the great Mr. Beast? But fret not - lead single Batcat doesn't so much blow away any cobwebs as vaporise them, probably causing some damage to whatever they were clinging onto. Centred on yet another monstrous, galumphing riff, Batcat wastes little time piling on the Glaswegian doom. Grime chimes provide a slight relief to the brain-pounding sonic pile-drive Mogwai have made their own, but this is another rollercoaster. A dark rollercoaster where the passengers are sealed in an iron box beforehand, then set on a rusted track whilst howling ghouls head-butt the walls. During a thunderstorm. At night.

Anyone hoping for a connection with Charlie and Lola and their imaginary super-moggy besides the track title will be sadly disappointed. There is nothing whimsical and innocent here - it's a Mogwai track, for heaven's sake. There's a reason why they soundtracked the Zidane film and not In The Night Garden - although if they did, it would be awesome. Batcat is released as an EP with the intriguingly-titled Stupid Prick Gets Chased By The Police And Loses His Slut Girlfriend (Possibly a connection with Balamory, although I'm not absolutely sure) and Devil Rides, which promises the elevated vocal talents of one Roky Erickson. As the nights lengthen and memories of sunny festivals fade, it looks like we have some wonderful Winter lullabies to come.

Listen: www.myspace.com/mogwai

Tracklist:
1. Batcat

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