Mogwai with The Pastels and Remember Remember at the Usher Hall

The usher Hall in Edinburgh is celebrating its 100th anniversary throughout 2014 with some special shows. In terms of Scottish independent music, you can't get much more special than last nights triple bill of Mogwai, The Pastels and Remember Remember.

With the rugby on at Murrayfield, Dave kindly offered to drive so we could avoid the last train back with a load of drunken rugby fans. This ensured we were through in time for doors opening and in plenty of time for Remember Remember.

The Usher Hall looked exceptional, a fitting setting for the evening.

Remember Remember were a 6-piece for the evening, lined up across the stage with an impressive array of instruments and effects. Graeme Ronald introduced the band and thanked Mogwai for having them, before announcing they would play some songs from their forthcoming album due for release later this year, on Mogwai's Rock Action Records.

The opening song was beautiful. Bubbling lysergic synths, delicate melodies played out on xylophone and keys before synths, bass and percussion took took the audience on a musical journey into Graeme Ronald's mind.

Ronald's ear for melody and his ability to create beautiful layers and sonic adventures is pretty staggering on record. Watching him almost conduct his band in a live setting with knowing nods and glances is a pleasure to watch. The smile on his face as he let the closing song fall to him playing keys before letting rip on his guitar was fantastic, you could tell he was enjoying being let loose on the Usher Hall sound system.

The venue was pretty full by the time Remember Remember had finished their set, so my wish for a quick visit to the bar before The Pastels came on wasn't quite fulfilled as it was mobbed.

The Pastels were in full flow with the title track of their latest album 'Slow Summits' as we made our way to the front. A 6 minute 30 second guitar surf/psych instrumental, it sounded superb via the Usher Hall sound system, the guitars were sharp and piercing.

The Pastels went one better than Remember Remember and were a 7-piece for the night, sounding superb on a range of songs from throughout their career. 'Check My Heart' was a joyful romp, bright and breezy guitar pop, full of hooks and melodies. 'Summer Rain' was melancholic and beautiful.

Song of the night for me was 'Baby Honey'. If Ronald had visibly displayed his enjoyment of the quality of the sound system on offer then Stephen Pastel did the same; turning his amp up, using a bottle for effects and creating a fantastic sound with duelling guitars. It dates back almost 30-years but just sounds so fresh and vital, raw and packed with urgency.

Mogwai came on to a magnificent reception and didn't waste any time at all in creating widescreen soundscapes in a way that only they can. We moved back from the front to take it in, but also to protect our ears a little. Mogwai are fierce!

'Heard About You Last Night' is the opening song from their fantastic 'Rave Tapes' LP and it opened proceedings here. The band just locked in, all on the same wave length.

The dramatic lighting rigs suspended from the ceiling created a spaceship like feel to the show, Mogwai certainly played like they are from another planet. Braithwaite jerked in time with his playing, another clearly enjoying the sound system

The audience seemed in awe and in adulation. Mogwai inspire a real devotion from fans, displayed in the hall and also through the steady queue at the mercy stall

Mogwai are an incredible live act, quite difficult to describe, you really have to experience it for yourself. The way they take a riff/sound and build on it, they are intense, fierce and inventive.

This was a fantastic 3-band bill in a tremendous setting that bands and fans appreciated.

Rave Tapes by Mogwai

Atmospheric, cinematic, gentle, lulling, powerful, melodic, music to get lost in….introducing Rave Tapes, the latest album by Mogwai.

The superbly titled 'Heard About You Last Night' sets us off on the journey, the band gelling in a manner that not many others can. Mogwai have the ability to keep things restrained, almost reigned in, yet leaving the listener with the knowledge that things could take off at any time.

'Simon Ferocious' is menacing, the band locked in a groove but allowing all kinds of things to develop over the top of it before bringing it all back together.

Mogwai's unique skills are showcased to full effect on 'Remurdered', all murky and sinister synths combining with guitars and beats. At 3-minutes in the band take things off in another direction, close your eyes and enjoy.

'Hexon Bogon' follows and in many ways it stands as the centrepiece of the album. Majestic in force and in flight. I marvel that this is only just over 2 and a half minutes long.

'Repelish' has a brilliant sample of someone talking about Led Zeppelin. The music is intricate and moody, there is always that sense that something is about to happen. Rave Tapes is beautifully produced, it sounds live.

The drumming and rhythm section in 'Deesh' is formidable. Allowing the band to experiment with synths on top.

'Blues Hour' is delicate and beautiful, and contains vocals! It does build, allowing Mogwai to combine the delicate piano riff with crashing drums, guitars and synths/strings.

'No Medicine For Regret' contains possibly my favourite moment on the album, when at 1 minute 50 seconds a beautiful little synth melody appears from nowhere.

Rave Tapes closes with 'The Lord is Out Of Control', vocoder set to stun, it is all kinds of dreamy bliss.

Mogwai continue to take fans and listeners on trips to far flung sonic places that others can only dream of reaching. Mogwai are not setting controls for the heart of the sun, they are looking for dark and unexplored corners with hidden stars. They tend to find them.

Have Some Face In Magic - Errors

I've never been particularly drawn to Errors before, their latest single 'Pleasure Palaces' probably changed quite a lot of misconceptions I had about the band.

At times I can form an opinion about a band without seeing them live or taking the time to check them out online - and lets face it, that is incredibly easy to do these days. I had always thought that Errors were maybe a little bit of a heavy band that I wouldn't enjoy.


So I bought the latest album, with the great title 'Have Some Face In Magic'. Here is my mini-review, a tweet for each song.

Tusk
Prog rock riffs drive the song along, not my favourite song on the album if I am honest.


Magna Encarta
A pulsating beat is draped in layers of keyboard and synths before the beat changes and it flows on from there.


Blank Media
Gentle melodies and soothing warm guitar chords are layered with synth riffs. Lovely!


Pleasure Palaces
The single that even captured the attention of The Saturdays! Atmospheric and easy to get lost in the mood of this and taken on a journey. Beautifully produced. Sublime.


The Knock
This album changes pace from song to song. This one is like space age acid jazz at times. Kind of like Bowie era Low. A stand out.


Canon
Under 2-minutes long, a darker sister to The Knock.


Earthscore
Sinister church like chants over samba style beats before things kick on from there. Dare I mention prog rock again? Really develops after 2 minutes.


Cloud Chamber
Aptly named, dreamy track.


Barton Spring
Beautiful strings (or a synth/sample) create more lushious dream like sounds 


Holus Bolus
Dreamy is a word I'll need to use again. Trippy and bubbling synths come and go throughout, choir like vocals. Rather gorgeous.


And a quick summary
An album that will always have something to return to, growing on each listen and wanting me to see it created in a live environment. Quite dreamy at times, always atmospheric with loads to keep the listener captivated and wonder how it all came together at times.

Remember Remember at Bar Brel, 29th January 2012

Well that was quite a weekend of music, Admiral Fallow were majestic at the ABC on Friday night and last night I was blown away by Remember Remember playing in Bar Brel. Both gigs were part of Celtic Connections.


I discovered Remember Remember late on last year. How I kick myself for not checking them out before. I've pretty much fallen in love with their album The Quickening that was released on Rock Action Records in the fall of 2011.


So last night Lynn and I headed along to one of our favourite bars in Glasgow last night, calling on the Grandparents to babysit for the second time of the weekend, we need to rebuild the brownie points! 


We were early, arriving at Brel for 7.30pm as the tickets had said it was an early show. Remember Remember were still soundchecking so there was time for a beer or two and a catch up with our friend Ceal.


Adam Stearns and the Glass Animals were supporting. The Glass Animals were quite appropriately named, helping Adam to create some fragile harmonies that captivated the Brel audience.


Adam, plus his sister and friend played well, especially considering they are so different to Remember Remember. There were laughs all round as Adam introduced a harmonium that they had bought the day before. Somehow his sister coaxed beautiful sounds out of it.


There was time to grab a quick beer as the conservatory in Brel filled up ahead of Remember Remember. We were standing to the side but a couple sitting in the very front row got up and said we could have their seats. After careful consideration for our ears and how geeky it would be to sit inches from the band (Brel is teeny tiny) we decided to go for it.

Remember Remember is a collective built around the considerable talents of Graeme Ronald (above). There were 6 of them playing at Brel last night, so they ended up having to use some of the floor space for their vast bank of instruments and pedals; Brel's electricity bill may be considerably higher next month!


The set consisted mainly of tracks from The Quickening; openers 'White Castle' and 'Ocean Potion'. Ronald displayed nimble footwork in a square foot of space to switch from playing glockenspiel to guitar, fully utilising his amazing case of effect pedals.


Xylophones plays a huge part in the music of Remember Remember, melodies are picked out before the band slowly but surely take the music and the listener off on a glorious and at times epic journey.


At the back of the stage we had the long haired and bearded drummer who seemed completely in tune with Ronald, responding to nods and hand signals to up the pace or bring it down. To the drummers right was a bank of synths where most of the bass sounds originated from, along with a whole heap of other glorious noises.


At the front of the stage a girl switched from xylophone to keyboards, while the guitarist could barely move to her left due to everything going on around him.


Ronald was at the front with guitar, effect pedals, keys/synths and xylophone and to his right was a guy playing sax and more keys/synths.

'Scottish Widows' started with Ronald gently playing a gentle piano/keyboard riff before swelling into something completely mesmerising. The six piece just seem so i tune with each other, they can take songs to places others can only dream of. 

There was an element of humour (as there is at most Glasgow gigs) when Ronald's Mum sitting behind us said that this was her favourite song. It was a nice moment and there was more to come.


'One Happier' is just beautiful. A truly stunning and emotive piece of music. I guess that is one thing that really hit home watching and listening to the band last night; how they can conjure up such emotion without words.


Take 6-minutes out your day to marvel at what must go on inside Graeme Ronald's head to create the layers of beauty that make up this song.

Ronald announced 'John Candy' as the bands final song and the beats started it off, the opening guitar riff was looped before the second started, synths started to bubble and the journey was starting. 'John Candy' is probably my favourite RR song. It teases and eases itself into the groove and it flows superbly; just gorgeous.


The bit around 2-minutes in is epic, particularly in the live environment. Ronald brought some gadget out that allowed him to coax some stunning star kissed sounds out of his guitar and the band just locked in for the ride.


Ronald asked if the band had time for one more and the promoter who was clearly enjoying the show said 'two more'. Ronald replied without missing a beat 'do you know how long our songs last?'


Then it was time for Ronald's parents to join in, almost doing the introduction for him when Ronald said 'we'll do songs in one, 'Fountain' and 'Mountain'' and his Mum said 'these are off the first Remember Remember album'. His Dad then joked that they would have to sit further back next time. It was a lovely warm moment that the audience enjoyed.


And so it ended, a show that I can put money on being in my top 5 shows of 2012 and January isn't even over yet. Remember Remember are an exceptional band with unbelievable talent and vision. I look forward to seeing them again and hearing some new tunes from them in the future.