Mogwai Take Control

Like many a trail-blazing pioneer rock act, *Mogwai *used to be the future but after the release of their last album, Happy Songs For Happy People, many wondered if the Glaswegians weren’t a spent force. With their quiet-loud dynamics and expansive, sparsely-vocalled song structure reproduced and paid homage to rather competently by many a youthful ensemble, naturally there were questions asked of their relevance. This residence of the London ICA for five nights will surely put any doubters to rest.

There has always been something special about *Mogwai *that has allowed them to transcend any pigeonholing. Referenced by so many of their peers as a major influence, the quintet also crosses the spectrum in terms of their support, enticing indie kids, goths and rockers alike. It is a wonderful and pertinent point for the sumptuous musical combinations that they perform are just as conflicting and seemingly incompatible yet blend together with such unerring harmony that everything highlights and underlines the other.

The air held a notable respect from the audience tonight – the between-song silence will attest to that – and one couldn’t help but wonder if there was not too much respect afforded to the Scots tonight. Could *Mogwai *possibly tumble from the heady pedestal that they were quite clearly glued upon? Once the final notes of opening track, ‘Glasgow Mega-Snake’, had finished reverberating it was clear that there was no need to wonder about any falls from grace, as the rich splendour and musical elegance offered to the crowd was second to none.

Playing such crowd-pleasers and ‘Ithica’, ‘Helicon 2’ and ‘Stanley Kubrick’ _paid every dividend tonight as they merged with new tracks such as new single, _‘Friend Of The Night’ _and the set opener. There was no disparity in quality throughout and the set had the feel of a collection of their greatest hits. There are no comparisons to be made here. Mogwai don’t sound like other bands; other bands sound like Mogwai. Their forthcoming album, _Mr. Beast, can be expected to take all their ideas even further than before, bringing a whole new level of experimentation to the fold.

*Mogwai *are just as relevant and inspiring today as they were a decade ago when they were wowing the crowds in and amongst the UK’s toilet venues. After just over an hour experiencing the fine tones of a band that is supremely comfortable within itself and continues to create grand, timeless masterpieces, there can be no doubt about that.

_ Photographs from Tuesday night's performance by Lucy Johnston

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