Mogwai - 'Government Commissions' (BBC Sessions album)
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Mogwai - 'Government Commissions' (BBC Sessions album)
Head's up Mogwai fans here a new release. (February 22)
from amazon.co.uk:
Amazon.co.uk Review
A collection of tracks culled from BBC radio sessions recorded throughout Mogwai's career, Government Commissions is as close as these foundation-shaking Scottish instrumental rockers have got so far to a Greatest Hits collection. Rather than running riot through their back catalogue, however, it's clear that this retrospective has been sequenced to write a specific history. Opening with the avuncular voice of John Peel, who introduces the lilting tones of "Hunted By A Freak" performed live at London's Maida Vale, it's quickly clear we're in mellow Mogwai territory: just as Barry Burns' effects-laden vocals drift, phantom-like, within a shimmering curtain of effects, these tracks – some recorded seven years apart--segue so neatly into one another you can barely spot the join, a testament to the neat homogeneity of the BBC engineers' production job. There is, of course, room for one exception, and that's set aside for an 18-minute take on "Like Herod" that towers in the middle of the album like a dormant volcano, quietly belching smoke between periodic eruptions of towering, mangled feedback. --Louis Pattison
Mogwai - Government Commissions: BBC Sessions 1996-2003
from amazon.co.uk:
Amazon.co.uk Review
A collection of tracks culled from BBC radio sessions recorded throughout Mogwai's career, Government Commissions is as close as these foundation-shaking Scottish instrumental rockers have got so far to a Greatest Hits collection. Rather than running riot through their back catalogue, however, it's clear that this retrospective has been sequenced to write a specific history. Opening with the avuncular voice of John Peel, who introduces the lilting tones of "Hunted By A Freak" performed live at London's Maida Vale, it's quickly clear we're in mellow Mogwai territory: just as Barry Burns' effects-laden vocals drift, phantom-like, within a shimmering curtain of effects, these tracks – some recorded seven years apart--segue so neatly into one another you can barely spot the join, a testament to the neat homogeneity of the BBC engineers' production job. There is, of course, room for one exception, and that's set aside for an 18-minute take on "Like Herod" that towers in the middle of the album like a dormant volcano, quietly belching smoke between periodic eruptions of towering, mangled feedback. --Louis Pattison
Mogwai - Government Commissions: BBC Sessions 1996-2003
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Originally Posted by Giles
Head's up Mogwai fans here a new release. (February 22)
from amazon.co.uk:
Amazon.co.uk Review
A collection of tracks culled from BBC radio sessions recorded throughout Mogwai's career, Government Commissions is as close as these foundation-shaking Scottish instrumental rockers have got so far to a Greatest Hits collection. Rather than running riot through their back catalogue, however, it's clear that this retrospective has been sequenced to write a specific history. Opening with the avuncular voice of John Peel, who introduces the lilting tones of "Hunted By A Freak" performed live at London's Maida Vale, it's quickly clear we're in mellow Mogwai territory: just as Barry Burns' effects-laden vocals drift, phantom-like, within a shimmering curtain of effects, these tracks – some recorded seven years apart--segue so neatly into one another you can barely spot the join, a testament to the neat homogeneity of the BBC engineers' production job. There is, of course, room for one exception, and that's set aside for an 18-minute take on "Like Herod" that towers in the middle of the album like a dormant volcano, quietly belching smoke between periodic eruptions of towering, mangled feedback. --Louis Pattison
Mogwai - Government Commissions: BBC Sessions 1996-2003
from amazon.co.uk:
Amazon.co.uk Review
A collection of tracks culled from BBC radio sessions recorded throughout Mogwai's career, Government Commissions is as close as these foundation-shaking Scottish instrumental rockers have got so far to a Greatest Hits collection. Rather than running riot through their back catalogue, however, it's clear that this retrospective has been sequenced to write a specific history. Opening with the avuncular voice of John Peel, who introduces the lilting tones of "Hunted By A Freak" performed live at London's Maida Vale, it's quickly clear we're in mellow Mogwai territory: just as Barry Burns' effects-laden vocals drift, phantom-like, within a shimmering curtain of effects, these tracks – some recorded seven years apart--segue so neatly into one another you can barely spot the join, a testament to the neat homogeneity of the BBC engineers' production job. There is, of course, room for one exception, and that's set aside for an 18-minute take on "Like Herod" that towers in the middle of the album like a dormant volcano, quietly belching smoke between periodic eruptions of towering, mangled feedback. --Louis Pattison
Mogwai - Government Commissions: BBC Sessions 1996-2003
#4
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I find this band fascinating. I'll be looking out for this, as I have enjoyed each of the albums so far.
And I agree, the mellower stuff is great.
And I agree, the mellower stuff is great.
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so have any of you guys seen them live - intense is an understatement.
The time I saw them at the 9:30 club a few years back, the music threatened to bring down the ceiling - they were insanely loud. At one point five guitarists were playing all at the same time. If you're fans of this band and you haven't seen them live, prepare to sonically assaulted, they are simply unbelievable.
The time I saw them at the 9:30 club a few years back, the music threatened to bring down the ceiling - they were insanely loud. At one point five guitarists were playing all at the same time. If you're fans of this band and you haven't seen them live, prepare to sonically assaulted, they are simply unbelievable.
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Originally Posted by Giles
so have any of you guys seen them live - intense is an understatement.
The time I saw them at the 9:30 club a few years back, the music threatened to bring down the ceiling - they were insanely loud. At one point five guitarists were playing all at the same time. If you're fans of this band and you haven't seen them live, prepare to sonically assaulted, they are simply unbelievable.
The time I saw them at the 9:30 club a few years back, the music threatened to bring down the ceiling - they were insanely loud. At one point five guitarists were playing all at the same time. If you're fans of this band and you haven't seen them live, prepare to sonically assaulted, they are simply unbelievable.
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I was in the store today and happened to see this after having completely forgotten about it. As the reviews stated, this definitely is the mellower side of Mogwai, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Since I'm not familiar with all of Mogwai's material, some of these songs are new to me, but I'd say I like both the new ones and the others I was familiar with alike, and I particularly like "Superheroes of BMX".