1. Auto Rock

2. Glasgow Mega Snake

3. Acid Food

4. Travel is Dangerous

5. Team Handed

6. Friend of the Night

7. Emergency Trap

8. Folk Death 95

9. I Choose Horses

10. We’re No Here

For their fifth album, Mr Beat, Glasgow’s finest, Mogwai, have included both cacophonies as well as lilting melodies firmly based in the Scottish folk tradition. Much of the album is very loud music, regardless of the volume setting. But Mogwai’s version of Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound is far more muscular and unrelenting. Fortunately, the album isn’t all ear-bashing. There are many dark, brooding quite moments along the way — almost exclusively constructed from what seems to be well-known folk tunes, but are unique and original, merely stylistically familiar

Most of the album is purely instrumental, although “I Choose Horses”, curiously enough, includes spoken Japanese lyrics – probably completely unintelligible to most potential listeners.

Once started, this album cannot be ignored or avoided. It cannot be consigned to the background, nor can it be switched off (except literally!). Like all the most inventive music, this album can jump up and bite you at unexpected moments. Beware!

©  Straight Words, 2006