Mogwai - The Hawk is Howling
Rating
RIYL
Godspeed! You Black EmpeprorExplosions In the Sky
Sigur Ros
Release Date
09/23/2008
Label
MatadorTracklist
1. I'm Jim Morrison, I'm Dead2. Batcat
3. Danphe And The Brain
4. Local Authority
5. The Sun Smells Too Loud
6. Kings Meadow
7. I Love You, I'm Going To Blow Up Your School
8. Scotland's Shame
9. Thank You Space Expert
10. The Precipice
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Glasgow is becoming known for creative rock sounds, especially built around the guitar. For those who have never given the Glasgow based post-rock group Mogwai the time of day, here is an opportunity to check in to what Glasgow is producing. Be forewarned, however, it may be like the first time you tasted hard liquor—the impact comes before the taste is acquired. Their music is often dark and usually based on the embellishment of just one or two themes, the songs are rarely under five minutes, and on Mogwai’s latest studio album, The Hawk is Howling, you won’t be singing along because it is all instrumental.
In order to really appreciate Mogwai, it has to be understood that while the songs may lack dynamics, they make up for it in the way they approach the sound they create. Rather than focusing on chord changes and impressive licks, they will take a motif they like and take it to its limits. For example, on the seventh track “I Love You, I’m Going to Blow up Your School” the song starts off very quietly, with almost no sound. Then the bass player establishes a melody and time, and following that layers begin to be added: first a guitar, then a xylophone, then an array of noises that without the actual studio files would be impossible to know how they were made. It's sound design like this where Mogwai really shines, and a patient listener will be rewarded.
Having said that, this album does have its weak spots. On the second track of this album, “Batcat,” the rhythms and the drumming tend to drag rather than support the music. It becomes a very difficult listen. It makes you think that maybe part of the reasoning for their lack of percussive songs is because their drumming honestly is just not that good. Now any avid listener of the band would know this isn’t true, but you can’t help but realize there is not a single impressive or tasteful thing from the rhythm section on this entire album. Perhaps that is what they intended.
The biggest roadblock to this album reaching critical mass is very likely in the quality of production. For Mogwai’s sixth studio release they chose producer Andy Miller (Life Without Buildings, Desert Hearts). Mogwai, hasn’t used Miller as their producer since their album No Education = No Future in 1998. There is a reason Mogwai’s sound has progressed so well over the past decade, and it is in no way due to their departure from Miller. When a producer takes on the task of bringing a post-rock album like this to life, he must approach it with the same type of respect for sound design as the band itself. Rather than making them sound huge when the songs climax, the band sounds muddy and poorly mixed. For example on “Scotlands Shame”, the epic tremolo picking from the guitar is only heard very low in the left speaker while the part that should be supporting the epic guitar part is much louder in the right speaker. It's really sad to hear the album produced in this manner because if it was mixed better, it could have easily been so much better.
--Taylor Pile
Comments
Milwaukee, WI
I agree with the review overall. I'd give it a 3.5 personally, because it's still pretty good, despite not being their best work. And between I'm Jim Morrision, I'm Dead and I Love, I'm Going to Blow Up Your School those are two of my favorite post-rock songs of the year.
Minnesota
I've never been all that into Mogwai, but this release I found myself enjoying. It's a 3.5 in my book whereas most of their previous stuff would be a 2.5 to 3.
Find me EVERYWHERE:
VT
This review isn't even close. It's at least a 4, and it's one of their best albums to date.
My Top Songs of '09
The Appleseed Cast//as the little things go
Caspian//sycamore
Sunwrae//Chinook Winds
Dredg//down to the seller
If These Trees Could Talk//the sun is in the north
From Monument to Masses//an ounce of prevention
Straylight Run//i'm through with the past
LpShinobi's Post-Rock and Shoegazing Recommendation, via YouTube
Lpshinobi's Post-Rock Band, New Song Posted
Los Angeles
i'd probably give it no more than a 3. it has a few good songs and a lot of meh.
it's probably their 5th or 6th best album.
postrockpaperscissors
Toronto
I'd give it a 4, and what is with the RIYL? A lot of post-rock sounds the same, but Mogwai doesn't sound anything like Sigur Ros or Godspeed imo.
Milwaukee, WI
I went back and looked at reviews of Mr. Beast and it's really interesting to see all of the differing opinions that Mogwai fans have on what's their best work. Everyone has it in different order... I don't know what order I would go in, but my favorite Mogwai discs are Come on Die Young, Mr. Beast, Young Team and Hawk is Howling. I found HSFHP to be a little boring and I never got into Rock Action.
Edit: And I am with the post above mine. How does Mogwai sound like Sigour Ros? They Never have and never will.
Last point, I'd add My Father, My King to their list of best work. Love that song.
Claremont, CA
come on die young is a masterpiece, easily their best work in my opinion.
Boston, MA
I thought this ranked among their best work and is easily a 4 in my book. I have to say that I disagree with most of the review as well. The production sounds good and "Batcat" is an incredible song. Each track plays like the soundtrack to to an epic story that has yet to be written. Mogwai has always managed to polarize their fans no matter what they do. I guess it comes down to the fact that people fear change and this is a completely different animal than Mr. Beast.
Stereo Typing
Tweet at me, bro
NJ
I would go like this:
1. Young Team
2. Come on Die Young
3. EP+6
4. Rock Action + My Father My King (aka Rock Action part 2)
5. Mr. Beast
5. Hawk is Howling
5. Happy Songs for Happy People
8. Ten Rapid (to be fair i haven't given it a listen on its own)
Not counting Zidane soundtrack, The Fountain soundtrack or BBC Sessions
I'd say Hawk is tied for 5th with beast and happy songs. Which isn't necessarily bad considering i'd pretty much rank everything mogwai has ever done far about anything else. I feel while those albums are good, most of the songs lack a real good 'hook' to make them really stand out. Hawk is pretty amazing live though
Go FLYERS Go
Los Angeles
all that matters is that their best song ever is on Happy Songs.
postrockpaperscissors
St. Louis, MO
I think you're mistaken. "Mogwai Fear Satan" is on Young Team.
~Tom
The Silent Ballet: The very best in instrumental and post-rock reviews and coverage.
Los Angeles
bah! best song is "stop coming to my house."
i wouldn't even say "mogwai fear satan" is the best on young team! great song though.
postrockpaperscissors
NJ
bah! Helicon 1 is on Ten Rapid suckas
Also Superhero's of BMX
Go FLYERS Go
Infinitely Inwards
Great album too me. Then again, I am not a post rock master like some, so i can't really comment on the aspects of it. I just love the way most of it sounds.
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