Mogwai – “Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will.” – [Sub Pop Records]

Apollo   2/14/2011   A Library, CD

Post-rock from Glasgow’s Mogwai. On this release, the band is joined by Luke Sutherland on vocals, violin, and guitar.

Tracks 3 and 6 are gems that show that the band can still reinvent themselves and the genre. “Rano Pano” is a stunning song with a distorted, yet beautiful melody. “Letters to the Metro” is my favorite song on the album. The weeping slide guitar is reminiscent of Mogwai’s 1999 album Come On Die Young. The elegant film-noir piano and sizzling ride cymbal push the song into a jazzy territory that the band has never really explored before. These elements, along with chorus-heavy keyboard and white-noise sound effects, create a haunting, gorgeous masterpiece.