Analogy of the day - Mogwai albums, and by extension their live shows, are like visiting the ocean. Technically, if you’ve been once (heard one), you’ve gotten the gist of it. Endless vistas, rolling waves, the majesty of nature (quiet quiet LOUD LOUD, darkly foreboding, mostly instrumental post-rock soundtrack to the end times).
But to take a “been there, done that” attitude is to miss the point - no matter how many times you stand at the coast, you never cease to be stunned by the immense and inspiring beauty of it all (or at least you shouldn’t if you have any kind of soul) and no matter how many times you’ve faced the combined amplified and visceral glory of the Scottish quintet, your pants will still flap and your teeth will still hurt and you will still love it. Or at least you should. Old material, new material, whatever - it’s about the kick in the head.
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