ARTIST: Mogwai
TITLE: Earth Division
LABEL: Sub Pop Records
GENRE: Instrumental Rock
BITRATE: 226kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 0h 16m total
RELEASE DATE: 2011-09-12
RIP DATE: 2011-09-12
Track List
----------
1. Get To France 2:26
2. Hound Of Winter 3:54
3. Drunk And Crazy 5:28
4. Does This Always Happen? 4:44
Release Notes:
http://www.mogwai.co.uk
In an interview with Drowned in Sound published last month, Stuart Braithwaite
revealed that the four tracks which make up the latest Mogwai release were
recorded in the sessions for the ultra-successful, borderline chart-bothering
Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will. Considering the consistency and quality
of that album, it could be assumed that the disparate parts assembled to form
Earth Division simply werenÆt up to scratch. However, to do so would be to
dismiss yet another string to the bandÆs already considerably well-populated
bow.
With a running time of 15 minutes and an almost complete absence of live drums,
Earth Division doesnÆt need to make any effort in order to differentiate itself
from the rest of the Mogwai catalogue; the violins and cellos which weave in and
out of proceedings add just enough grandeur without ever sounding jarring or
pretentious. While Braithwaite has also stated that the EPÆs sound is similar to
that of HardcoreÆs 23-minute art-installation bonus track æMusic for a Forgotten
Future (The Singing Mountain)Æ, there are also shades of the bandÆs soundtrack
to Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait; the use of orchestral strings in rock music
often implies a cinematic undertone but it is rare for it to be quite so
seamlessly integrated as on Earth Division.
While the EPÆs instrumentation may imply a consistent theme, each of its four
compositions maintains a distinct identity separate from its cohesive whole.
æDrunk and CrazyÆ is, as one might expect, the noisiest track on offer, and also
the closest to a full band experience as colossal shoegazed waves of sound meet
synthesized beats before surrendering to a gorgeously subdued string passage.
Conversely, æGet to FranceÆ is amongst the most unsettling, downright eerie
Mogwai compositions in recent years, while fans of the bandÆs signature fragile
vocals will be quietly content with the inclusion of æHound of WinterÆ, replete
with acoustic (!) guitar and even the odd dab of harmonica.
It is, however, closing track æDoes This Always Happen?Æ which provides the
culmination of Earth DivisionÆs orchestral efforts; its cyclical,
never-quite-resolving, finger-plucked chord progression makes for a tense
conclusion to an ambitious and career-affirming release. Rather than functioning
as simple b-side fodder, the four tracks which shape Earth Division are all
totally different, yet just as essential as the album from which they were
excluded. Based on this evidence, should Mogwai ever choose to release a
full-length acoustic(ish) album, it certainly wouldnÆt be the worst decision
theyÆve ever made.