2020-03-01 Total Guitar

16

TOTAL GUITAR MARCH 2020

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Back track

A GUITARIST’S GUIDE TO THE ARTISTSYOUNEEDTOKNOW

POS T-ROCK

By the early 90s, a new generation

of bands were beginning to explore

the possibilities of traditional rock

instrumentation without the

conventionsofrockitself.Aspart

ofa largely instrumental sound,

post-rockguitaristschoseto

exploretextureandtonethrough

composition,creatinga senseof

atmospherethatappealedtothe

headaswellastheheart.Once

consideredniche,todaypost-rock

canbeheardheadliningfestivals

andsoundtrackingfilmandTV,

allwith an eclectic mix of guitar.

1

Whiletheir 1997 debutholdsa specialplaceintheheartsoffans,Mogwaiare

one of those rare bands that have truly improved with age, and this seventh LP

is crammed with career-best songs that are both aurally dense yet accessible,

favouring melodic warmth over the dissonance that made earlier releases so striking.

Guitarist Stuart Braithwaite’s shoegaze textures provide a backdrop for the touches

of electronica across White Noise and Death Rays, while Mexican Grand Prix dives into

full-on krautrock throb. But for all its gentleness, Hardcore... never shies of making a

racket: San Pedro and You’re Lionel Richie hint at everything from Rival Schools to

doom metal, while Rano Pano’s fuzz-drenched riffs rank among the band’s finest.

Words Download Rano Pano

Stephen Kelly

Photo

Stefan Hoederath/Getty

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START WITH

MOGWAI

HARDCORE WILL NEVER DIE, BUT YOU WILL (2011)