Yahoo! Music Album Review

Released on 06/02/06
Label: PIAS

For a genre that was supposed to be about dazzling new possibilities in music, post rock quickly got stuck in a cul-de-sac. Even Mogwai themselves grew tired of the loud-quiet / loud-quiet dynamic that they helped to define, moving towards a softer, neo-classical style that felt less bogged down in cliché. But with maturity, one of the basic, visceral pleasures of listening to Mogwai - ie the sheer barrage of noise - got lost. Had they taken a step forward or sideways?

"Mr Beast" was supposed to be a return to the five-piece's rock roots, but somewhere along the line - thankfully - they stopped second guessing themselves and went with whatever felt natural. Hence we get songs that delight in cloudbursts of sweeping noise ("Glasgow Mega Snake" for one), alongside tracks that feel as fragile and quietly beautiful as any of their mid-period work (the stunning piano-led "Friend Of The Night"). Best of all, there are also a couple of gentle forays into what feels like new territory.

It's a simple twist on the post-rock / neo-classical form, but adding a non-English language vocal to a song like "I Choose Horses" adds a compelling, deeply atmospheric dimension. Unlike Sigur Ros' Jonsi, who reflects the majesty of the music with his own, instinctive Hopelandic, guest vocalist Tetsuya Fukagawa (of superb noisecore band Envy) calmly intones in Japanese, suggesting at a clear narrative beyond the suggestive beauty of the music. The fact that the non-Japanese speaking listener can't understand a word doesn't matter a jot - in fact, it almost opens up the song further, bringing in emotional space.

"Acid Food", meanwhile, twists the formula once again, by bringing in a soft, vocodered vocal and a pedal steel. Again, it's a simple addition, but the pedal steel adds yet another fresh dimension - not just the rich, warm tones of the instrument, but the cultural resonance of traditional country. "Travel Is Dangerous" continues the theme into slightly more familiar country gothic territory - approaching the line that Calexico straddle from the post-rock side, essentially - but the point is made. Rather than thriving in its own distinct bubble, post rock actually works best as a collaborative tool, one open to other voices and genres.

All of this progress occurs in the margins, it's important to stress. There are no huge surprises on this album - it sounds and feels exactly how you'd expect - but somehow "Mr Beast" still seems vital and forward thinking. Perhaps the real achievement within this record is Mogwai relaxing into themselves, feeling happy with the fact that - even if they're now just dotting is and crossing ts - they're making dramatic, impressive music that's leagues ahead of whatever's in fashion this week. Long may they continue their slow meander onwards.

    by Ian Watson