Already a contender for album title of the year, Mogwai release their eagerly anticipated new album, the exquisitely titled Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will on February 14th. The bands seventh studio outing and a follow up to 2008s disappointingly, indulgent The Hawk Is Howling, finds Glasgows finest back in stunning form.
The albums breezes into life with the joyously, nostalgic White Noise, which harks back to the likes of the excellent Golden Porsche on the Happy Songs for Happy People record. This is followed by the electro tinged Mexican Grand Prix, its barely audible hushed words another perfect example of Mogwais selective use of vocals.
The snarling, sneering guitar work on Rano Pano, the records first release, is in somewhat stark contrast to what has come before it, but fits perfectly into the structure of things. For me however, the absolute highlight on an album full of highlights comes in the shape of How to be a Werewolf. The sweeping guitars of Braithwaite, Cummings and Burns coupled with the steady consistency of Martin Bulloch drums bring you to that rare place musically, where before the song even ends you want to press repeat and play it again and this time play the fucker loud.
Then, it seems as quick as it has all begun comes the final track You’re Lionel Richie, which ends proceedings in a hail of beautiful building guitars, pounding snares and hi hats and Japanese samples.
This is the band’s first release for seminal label Sub Pop and once again finds Mogwai hook up with producer Paul Savage (the man behind 1997′s exceptional Mogwai Young Team) who has to be commended on the outstanding production work he has done yet again.
There is very little to fault with Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will so I am not even going to try. To be honest, the album kind of gave me head, all be it of course in a purely cerebral way. This is truly brilliant stuff, welcome back Mogwai.
