SOUNDTRACK: MOGWAI-4 Satin EP (1997).
Mogwai seemed to thunder onto the scene back in 1997. I missed this disc when it came out but I was on board with their debut. And then it seemed like a whole bunch of stuff was released right away: a collection of early EPs and a remix album. It was a little hard to keep everything straight including what the band actually sounded like.
This EP is pretty representative of their early sound: it has three songs that are less “songs” than they are soundscapes (or something). It’s something of a noise fest. Unlike their later songs which have discernible melodies (and are actually quite catchy) the three songs on this EP are more percussion and effects than actual melodies.
“Superheroes of BMX” is a series of washes over a simple series of electronic-sounding beats (it actually seems appropriate that they were on Chemical Underground records). Although by around 5 minutes the minimal guitar structures do come out. “Now You’re Taken” is closer to a proper song. It has a beautiful understated structure and vocals (!) by Aidan Moffat of Arab Strap.
But it’s “Stereodee” that really stands out: 13 minutes of noise and crashing and feedback. At about the ten minute mark, my five year-old son said, “I like this song daddy, it sounds like monsters crashing through a small hole.” I couldn’t agree more.
[READ: March 7, 2011] “Honor”
Golly, this story is dark. How’s this for an opener: “My father was supposedly dead, and I found out only years later that he’d left walked out when I was eighteen months old….” Yipes.
And I’ll say that the story doesn’t get any brighter.
So the narrator, born in the late 50s, tells the story of her mother raising a daughter (with the help of her mother who lives close by), and somehow making ends meet. Of course she would never even consider moving back home with her mom, but she is happy to have her so close.
The mother and the narrator are strong-willed and hard to stop. And when they are on the same side, they are formidable together. But when they disagree with each other (which they did pretty much all the time once she was a teen), it was tough being in their house.
The story unveils a plot about half way through. The plot concerns her Aunt Andy. Aunt Andy is her father’s brother’s wife. And she comes to stay with them for a period of time. In the past, Andy was shy but a little superior. Her husband is a used car salesman and quite wealthy. But on this visit she is pale and visibly shaken. She is quiet and doesn’t mention her son at all. In the past, her son was a real jerk, so she’s somewhat relieved that the boy isn’t staying with them.
Andy won’t say what the problem is and her mother refuses to tell her anything serious. But even at the young age the narrator knows something is wrong. And then there’s the trial. (more…)
SOUNDTRACK: lions.chase.tigers: To Their Blood EP (2009).
I learned about lions.chase.tigers from the Dromedary compilation 
SOUNDTRACK: DO MAKE SAY THINK-Other Truths [CST062] (2009).
I’ve always enjoyed Do Make Say Think’s CDs. They play instrumentals that are always intriguing and which never get dull.
SOUNDTRACK: EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY-The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place (2003).
Explosions in the Sky play beautiful, lengthy almost cinematic instrumentals. They are primarily a guitar-drum band, (but they do add bass from time to time).
SOUNDTRACK: MOGWAI-The Hawk is Howling (2008).
I’ve been a fan of Mogwai since I first heard of them back in 1997 with their Young Team debut. They have progressed their sonic explorations of instrumentals into unimagined complexity and sonic booms.
SOUNDTRACK: COLDPLAY-Viva la Vida(2008). 
I have a very vivid memory of listening to Coldplay for the first time. I was driving a very annoying person to her revolting house in upstate New York. I was delighted to be getting her out of my life, and I was listening to Coldplay’s first album, Parachutes. I knew “Yellow” from either the radio or from some Britpop fascination of mine. AT the time, Coldplay were considered the next Travis, whose “Why Does It Always Rain on Me” had just soared up the charts. “Yellow” was described as Travis-like and something of a rip-off (a claim thrown at Coldplay to this day).
SOUNDTRACK: EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY-How Strange, Innocence (2005).
Explosions in the Sky is one of those instrumental bands that the kids are raving about these days. Bands have been doing instrumentals forever, really, but I guess about a decade or so ago, some bands started specializing in an all instrumental format. Bands like Scenic, Mogwai and Godspeed You Black Emperor are probably the forefathers, although to be honest I can’t think of too too many more bands doing the style (aside from the Constellation Label in general). These bands work a great, atmospheric sound, usually building to a crescendo and pulling away before reaching the ultimate climax. This album is EITS’ first, recently reissued. There are some bands who hit their stride running on their first record, these usually seem to be bands that aren’t too complicated. Nothing wrong with them, in fact their debuts are often stellar, as if they were born playing their style. EITS is not one of these bands. 
I Just Read About That... 