Mogwai

The Hawk Is Howling (Matador)

Once you’re an instrumental band, it’s hard not being an instrumental band. These tireless Glaswegian monsters of wordless rock have perfected tension and release over the last decade, and Hawk is bookended by two fine examples: somber opener “I’m Jim Morrison, I’m Dead” ripples, rumbles, then explodes, while closer “The Precipice” is hypnotically Sonic Youth in its build. “Batcat” finds the quintet chugging through doomy riffs and thick drums in a big metal sound that could’ve been explored more, but they prefer to jam with restraint, as heard on “Danphe and the Brain,” which mixes the patented quiet/loud/quiet formula to maximum effect right until the final swell of guitar and synth. The meat of Hawk tastes familiar, though, instrumentals meandering until it all bleeds together into one big wet spot. Mogwai’s not pulling out any new tricks, but then the Scots have never been ones to ruffle feathers. (Mogwai lands at Stubb’s Friday, Sept. 12.)

This article appears in September 12 • 2008.

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