Mogwai
Glasgow's Loudest BandSimple, melancholic musical narratives that gradually build into epic cyclones of feedback and guitar squall.
Since forming on the mean streets of Glasgow, Scotland (no kidding: the title of their debut EP Mogwai Young Team comes from a naming convention of Glasgow youth gangs) in the mid-'90s, Mogwai have created an epic, guitar-centric universe all their own. Their epic songs often eschew vocals and regularly stretch beyond the 10-minute mark. However, while many similar bands use this kind of sheer noise to hide a lack of songwriting prowess, Mogwai blend ear-shattering guitar volume with songs that are often quite delicate: simple, melancholic musical narratives that gradually build into epic cyclones of feedback and guitar squall. While there can occasionally be a tiresome sameness to some of Mogwai's albums, the band channels beauty and power in a few that few other bands can. Also, they have proven themselves to be a truly formidable live act, rivaling only Dinosaur Jr., Mission of Burma, Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine in the “your ears will ring for days after seeing them play” department.
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