THE HAWK IS HOWLING

"The hawk is howling" is perhaps my most favourite Mogwai album. Continuing on the winning streak started with "Happy music for happy people", this one has the band deepen their interest in instrumental crescendos with excellent post-rock guitar playing and majestic soundscapes (listen to "I'm James Morrison, I'm dead" and the elegant lush synths). Loud workouts include "Batcat" and the ominous "The precipice". The pop-friendly "The sun smells too loud" features a catchy guitar motive and organ. The witty-titled "I love, I'm going to blow up your school" has elegant guitar noodling in its first half, greatly supported by sensible drumming. In the end, the development of the song takes us to a metallic climax. "Thank you space expert" makes me feel like being in the universe and watch the Earth turn peacefully. With this release, Mogwai pushed the bar of their heavy and soft post-rock excellence even higher.