Mogwai’s latest album, the band’s seventh full-length studio release, due in stores next Tuesday, February 15th, is called Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will. I just found out about this today. Stephanie Scola of KEF told me because she knows I like Mogwai. Thank you, Stephanie. My reaction to this news was simple and unambiguous: With a name like Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will, the album had already earned my blind and stupid love. That’s right: Before ever even hearing this record, I knew that I was going to own it and I was going to love it. That’s the kind of guy I am. If you didn’t already know, now you know. Maybe this changes your opinion of me, but I don’t care.
Fortunately, the music is similarly excellent. The first track, “White Noise,” is glorious. It sounds as if the notes are pouring down to earth from the great white heavens. Some of the songs, such as “Rano Pano,” exhibit the thick, menacing guitar tone heard most recently on the band’s outstanding 2008 album, The Hawk is Howling, our January 2009 “Recording of the Month.” But those menacing tones are joined by blissed-out synth melodies. Mogwai is kinda silly and serious at the same time, and I like that about them; and, on this album, Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will, they seem to be more overtly demonstrating this duality.
Good thing, too, because there’s a lot of beauty and power in that intersection of silly and serious.
Also, the songs have names like, “George Square Thatcher Death Party,” and “How To Be a Werewolf,” and “Too Raging to Cheers.” Can you dig that? I can dig that. Think about one of those great moments where you’re too into life to even stop and raise a glass because, well, you’re too raging to cheers. That’s what this record sounds like.
And Mogwai can get introspective on you, too. Just listen to the silky-sweet cries of “Letters to the Metro.” There’s a delicacy there, a deepness, a solemn and gentle touch, because sometimes a guy needs to slow dance, too. But, even then, you know the violence and the volume and the sheer majestic, soaring beauty will be right around the corner. And you like that. It excites you. You can’t suppress the werewolf.
Anyway, I love this album, and I hope you will, too. It was recorded at Chem 19 Studios, near Glasgow, by Paul Savage (nice name), and the guys in Mogwai are studio wizards. I expect this album, Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will, to sound just as good as it sounds.
