CMU Playlists

Playlist: Mogwai

By | Published on Friday 11 February 2011

Mogwai

Formed in 1995, Mogwai are arguably the biggest and most influential band in the post-rock genre. Their debut album, ‘Young Team’, was released in 1997 via Glasgow indie label Chemikal Underground. They have subsequently released five more albums, through both PIAS and more recently their own Rock Action label.

Next week, the band release their seventh studio album, ‘Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will’, released through Rock Action. Ahead of that, we asked bandleader Stuart Braithwaite to put together a Powers Of Ten playlist for us, featuring some of his favourite music.

MOGWAI’S TEN
Click here to listen to Stuart’s playlist in Spotify, and then read on to find out more about his selections.

01 Skip James – Hard Time Killing Floor
This is just an exceptional blues song. His voice is unique and his guitar playing brilliant. Just a wonderful recording.

02 Roky Erickson – I Have Always Been Here Before
Roky Erickson is a legend of psychedelic rock music and we are incredibly privileged to have worked with him. This is a beautiful song and one of his best.

03 Bardo Pond – Cappilary River
Bardo Pond are one of Mogwai’s favourite bands and this song in particular had a huge influence on us when we heard it. The noise and the melody are indistinguishable from each other. Amazingly beautiful.

04 The Pastels – Nothing To Be Done
The Pastels are one of my favourite Scottish bands and I think this is my favourite song by them. Really uplifting and romantic. Two qualities very lacking in my record collection!

05 Can – Halleluwah
Probably the funkiest song I know and also the longest one on this playlist. Just a great song. The Stone Roses may well have heard this, I think.

06 Umberto – Everything’s Going To Be Okay
I don’t know much about Umberto, other than in the last year he has released two amazing albums based, from what I can tell, on 1970s horror film music. I guess this song is meant to play after the baddy has perished.

07 The Corries – Gartan Mother’s Lullaby
Most people associate The Corries with tub thumping folk anthems but some of their songs, such as this one, are very understated. The album this is from was played on instruments that they built themselves and has some great drones going on.

09 Salem – Asia
I’ve seen this band criticised for being ridiculous but I think that’s what I love about them. They clearly aren’t over considering what they do and I think that’s why it’s such a great sounding record.

10 Arvo Pärt – Spiegel Im Spiegel
As restrained as Salem are overblown, this is a serene piece of music for piano and violin by my favourite composer.



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