Noise and Serenity

Mogwai is known for creating a sense of intricacy in their music. Combining complex and simple parts of music and turning them into exquisite musical pieces is something the Glasgow band have mastered. On their seventh album, Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will, they have taken their view on intricacy and brought it to a whole new level.

The thing to keep in mind about Hardcore are the transitions. Switching off between precision post punk and soft ambient soundscapes is performed flawlessly without losing the song's intricacy. At the same time, it retains its cohesiveness. The track "Death Rays" is a perfect display of this. The song enters quitely with subtle guitar picking and light ambient noises, but as the 6-minute song reaches it's climatic point, the guitars began to soar as the drums and cymbals collide in dramatic fashion. It's a gradual, almost natural progression and does not throw the listener off guard, which makes this song one of the brightest tracks on the record. "Rano Rano" is also another highlight on the album, but does exhibit Mogwai's sense of transitions. Instead, this track stands out due to its elegant use of distortion and electronic sounds. It clearly displays the band's strong sense of experimentation.

Although Mogwai are known for their epic climaxes ("How To Be A Werewolf", "You're Lionel Ritchie"), it is the subtle moments on Hardcore that make the album truly shine. "Letters To The Metro" is calm and soothing track that only features soft ambient noises and piano keys. It is track on the album that gives the listener a sense of peace and tranquility in Mogwai's on-and-off chaotic soundscape. Both "Too Raging To Cheers" and the album's closer, "You're Lionel Ritchie" features elegant moments in the beginning as they set the stage for the band to unleash their epic climaxes. Keep in mind, though. Although, the quiet moments outshined the noisy chaos, there is still a sense of cohesiveness that exists in the album.




Overall, Hardcore Will Never Die But You Will is step forward in Mogwai's musical evolution. It is just an album that features their skill in transitions and subtle moments, but it's the album that proves that noise and serenity can be in harmony with one another. Llike many instrumental albums are meant to be listened to as a whole. Hardcore is no exception. To truly experience it, the listener needs to sit back with a pair of headphones and let the music takes it's toll.