Rock Action

Do not be deceived. The bombastic call-to-arms of the title is magnificently misleading in the same cheeky spirit of Mogwai's 'Blur Are Shite' t-shirts. Rumoured to be the most expensive 'post-rock' album ever made, Mogwai have gone about dismantling that annoying little term for good. Their first two albums, Young Team and Come On Die Young, were sprawling soundscapes of celestial noise. In a fabulous contrast, Rock Action is a delightfully concise 38 minute trip through lush pastures of string-laden dream pop.

This delicious deviation from their trademark instrumentalism is most evident in a newly-found love of vocals. However, in typical 'Gwai style, these are still far removed from the formulaic convention of typical 'songs'. Super Furry Animal Gruff Rhys pops by to warble unintelligible nothings on 'Dial:Revenge', while Snow Patrol head boy Gary Lightbody guests on the album's breathtaking highlight, 'Two Rights Make One Wrong'. Chiming guitars collide gently with lilting horns and willowy vodocorded vocals to form a Mogwai classic worthy of the same compilation tape as live centrepiece 'New Paths To Helicon' or 'Christmas Steps'.

On the lovely 'Take Me Somewhere Nice', Stuart Braithwaite gently intones, "what would you do if you saw spaceships over Glasgow?". Personally, after forming a very close bond with this record over the last six weeks, I'd advocate inviting them down for a nice cup of tea and a few sneaky listens to Rock Action. And make sure they don't leave earth without it.