Mogwai
http://www.abandcalledmogwai.com

styles: post-rock, instrumental rock, indie rock
others: Godspeed You Black Emperor!, Dirty Three

Rock Action
Matador 2001
rating: 9.2
reviewer: kasey diaz

Two years after the release of their groundbreaking epic Come On Die Young, Mogwai has released their third full-length LP, Rock Action, taken from the name of their own record label that they released their first ever single 'Tuner'/'Lower' on in 1996.

Rock Action sees the lazy Mogwai guitar lines and elongated crescendos taken to a much higher level, a giant leap in the overall songwriting talent of the band. It sees an array of inspiring musical arrangements supported by the usage of a variety of instruments including strings, banjos, trumpets, and trombone, along with an abundance of vocals (compared to their other works), from chanting to choir-like backing vocals on "2 Rights Make 1 Wrong." Gruff Rhys (Super Furry Animals) sings in his native Welsh on the beautiful "Dial: Revenge" while the band's own Stuart Braithwaite brandishes his own warm and cozy voice on "Take Me Somewhere Nice," "O I Sleep," and "Secret Pint."

In 8 tracks and 39 minutes, Rock Action travels through more emotional stages than I did when I quit smoking. Mogwai has seen what post-rock has to offer and has moved on. They prove that are a band to be cherished as they split the sea of Britpop cock-rockers, to deliver the magnificent Rock Action, my favorite album of 2001 so far. Oh, and don't worry, there's still plenty of hissing.

1. Sine Wave
2. Take Me Somewhere Nice
3. O I Sleep
4. Dial: Revenge
5. You Don't Know Jesus
6. Robot Chant
7. 2 Rights Make 1 Wrong
8. Secret Pint