Nineteen Ninety Nine's 'Come On Die Young' saw Mogwai lose the plot somewhat, with their once thrillingly and incisive music becoming somewhat ponderous and predictable.
'Rock Action' redresses that balance superbly, as the band rediscover the dynamics that originally made them so special, and add a new dimension to their sound with the use of strings, brass and, whisper it, vocals.
Opening track 'Sine Wave' begins with a slow, pulsing keyboard motif and distorted drums marking time. Gradually, the volume rises as more and more instruments join until the song reaches seismic proportions before fading down again. However, that's the only occasion when the band plays the 'quiet-loud' calling card of their earlier selves. Instead, 'Take Me Somewhere Nice' features vocals and sweeping string arrangements that embellish the band's taut dynamics to beautiful effect.
The Super Furry Animals collaboration, 'Dial: Revenge' features an acoustic opening and lead Furry Gruff singing in Welsh. The strings lift it to an other-worldly place, with an epic grandeur that never becomes overblown and pompous. Much like the album itself.
'You Don't Know Jesus' is another dense and throbbing maelstrom of guitar, keyboards and effects, with a shuddering bass line and up-front drums propelling everything onwards.
Digitised vocals mark out the gentle first part of the lengthy '2 Rights Make 1 Wrong' before the track almost starts over with brass instruments this time adding flavour in the background. Male and female vocals blend into one another before an abrupt ending that leads straight into the closing 'Secret Pint'.
Another acoustic-based track with prominent and some bone-jarring percussion at the beginning, this is another example of the new, improved, organic Mogwai. They've stripped away their identity, and rebuilt with no concessions to excess.
At just over half an hour long, 'Rock Action' is a concise and robust statement of intent. It also contains some of the most beautiful and mesmerising music you'll hear this or any other year.
by Simon P Ward