Mogwai in concert
Background information
Origin	Glasgow, Scotland
Genre(s)	Post-rock Space rock
Years active	1995–present
Label(s)	Chemikal Underground Matador Records Play It Again Sam Rock Action Records
Website	www.mogwai.co.uk www.matadorrecords.com/mogwai
Members
Stuart Braithwaite Dominic Aitchison Martin Bulloch John Cummings Barry Burns Graeme Ronald (current touring member)
Former members
Brendan O'Hare

Mogwai is a Scottish band from Glasgow, United Kingdom. Formed by Stuart Braithwaite and Dominic Aitchison in 1995, Mogwai has since become one of the most influential and best known names in post-rock.

They compose lengthy instrumental guitar-based pieces in the post-rock tradition, usually focused around the elaboration of a single theme, and are known traditionally for dynamic contrast, melodic bass riffs, and their use of guitar distortion and effects. Stuart Braithwaite has commented on the lack of lyrics within Mogwai's music, saying:

“

I think most people are not used to having no lyrics to focus on. Lyrics are a real comfort to some people. I guess they like to sing along and when they can't do that with us they can get a bit upset.

”

The band were originally signed to renowned Glasgow indie label Chemikal Underground, but are now distributed by different labels, such as Matador in the US and Play It Again Sam Records in the UK. They have also developed their own label, Rock Action Records, named after Stooges drummer Scott Asheton who had his name changed to Rock Action.

Their style has been influenced by bands including The Dirty Three, Joy Division, Pink Floyd, The Jesus and Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine, and post-rock pioneers Slint. During 2004 the band supported tours by two major influences, Pixies and The Cure. Mogwai's style has easily identifiable connections to genres like shoegaze, math rock, art rock, and occasionally instrumental metal. While their sound bears little resemblance to traditional punk rock, the band seems to identify closely with the punk ethic.

Mogwai is named after the creatures from the film Gremlins, although guitarist Stuart Braithwaite comments that "it has no significant meaning and we always intended on getting a better one, but like a lot of other things we never got 'round to it."

Contents 1 Discography 1.1 Studio albums 1.2 Compilations, remixes and live albums 1.3 EPs 1.4 Singles 1.5 Film 1.6 Television 2 References 3 External links

Discography

Studio albums

• Mogwai Young Team (27 October 1997)
• Come On Die Young (29 March 1999) #29 (UK)
• Rock Action (30 April 2001) #23 (UK)
• Happy Songs for Happy People (9 June 2003) #182 (US), #47 (UK)
• Mr. Beast (March 6, 2006) #128 (US), #31 (UK)
• Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait (30 October 2006)

Compilations, remixes and live albums

• Ten Rapid (Collected Recordings 1996-1997) (April 1997)
• Kicking a Dead Pig (8 May 1998)
• EP+6 (23 September 2000)
• Government Commissions: BBC Sessions 1996-2003 (21 February 2005)

EPs

• 4 Satin (26 May 1997)
• No Education = No Future (Fuck the Curfew) (29 June 1998)
• Mogwai:EP (18 September 1999)
• Travels in Constants (18 March 2001)
• U.S. Tour EP (24 May 2001)
• UK/European Tour EP (2 November 2001)
• Travel Is Dangerous (26 June 2006)

Singles

Release date	Release	Album
March 1996	"Tuner"/"Lower"	Ten Rapid (Collected Recordings 1996-1997)/(none)
1 July 1996	"Angels vs Aliens"	Ten Rapid (Collected Recordings 1996-1997)
4 November 1996	"Summer"/"Ithica 27ø9"	Ten Rapid (Collected Recordings 1996-1997)
February 1997	"New Paths to Helicon, Pt. 1"/"New Paths to Helicon, Pt. 2"	Ten Rapid (Collected Recordings 1996-1997)
May 1997	"Club Beatroot, Part 4"	(none)
23 March 1998	"Do the Rock Boogaloo"	(none)
1998	"Sweet Leaf"	(none)
22 September 2001	"My Father My King"	(none)
30 January 2006	"Friend of the Night"	Mr. Beast
26 June 2006	"Black Spider"	Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait

Note: The versions of "Tuner" and "Angels vs Aliens" that appear on Ten Rapid (Collected Recordings 1996-1997) are re-recordings.

Film

• Mogwai recorded the soundtrack for Douglas Gordon's Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait, which was called "The finest film at Cannes." by The Observer. The film was also shown at the Edinburgh International Film Festival.
• Mogwai worked on the original score music for the film The Fountain, composed by Clint Mansell and the Kronos Quartet.
• They have two songs, "Auto Rock" and "We're No Here" (from Mr. Beast) on Michael Mann's 2006 Miami Vice redux.
• The track "I Know You Are But What Am I?" appears on the soundtrack of Wicker Park.
• The track "Auto Rock" appears in the trailer of the upcoming Jodie Foster film The Brave One.
• The track "Christmas Song" is used in the film The Girl Next Door.
• The track "Secret Pint" is used in the Michael Moore film Sicko.
• The track "Hunted by a Freak" is used in the film The Football Factory
• The track "Tracy" is used in the "Emerica - This Is Skateboarding (2003)" credits. Kid locos playing with the young team remix. Song is in album "Kicking A Dead Pig"

Television

• "We're No Here" and "Auto Rock" were featured in CSI: Miami episode "Rio".
• "Tracy" was used in the CSI: Miami episode "Hurricane Anthony".
• "I Know You Are But What Am I" and "Like Herod" were used in CSI episodes "Homebodies" and "Spark of Life", respectively.
• "We're No Here" was used in the episode "Cyberwoman" of the BBC sci-fi series Torchwood.
• "Hunted by a Freak" was also used rather frequently in The X Factor.
• "Take Me Somewhere Nice" and "Kids Will Be Skeletons" were used in the sixth season of Sex and the City, while "Close Encounters" was used in the fourth season.
• "Take Me Somewhere Nice" was also used in The Shield in its first-season episode "Pay in Pain." First-season episode "Dragonchasers" used the song "Helicon 1."
• "Glasgow Mega-Snake" is also featured on the latest Tony Hawk video game, Tony Hawk's Project 8.
• "Auto Rock" as well as "We're No Here" was used in the third episode of the ninth series of Top Gear.
• "Cody" is used in the second episode of the first season of Skins.
• "Helicon 1" is used in the third episode of the first season of Friday Night Lights.
• "Take Me Somewhere Nice", "Christmas Song" and "2 Rights Make 1 Wrong" were used in Queer as Folk (US) episodes 210, 406, and 511, respectively.

References

External links