Mogwai @ Usher Hall

For all the distortion, there still remained many clear moments of well-calculated pathos

Article by Johnny Langlands | 16 May 2006

With the recently released Mr Beast consisting of a more 'Metallic' leaning than has been their previous form, the brutal post-rock of Mogwai is a little at odds with the prestigious environs of the Usher Hall. For all the distortion, there still remained many clear moments of well-calculated pathos- which have clearly informed the likes of Explosions in the Sky and Team Sleep in recent times - yet it's never enough to justify the encore of a 15 minute effects pedal medley which appears to serve the sole purpose of making the pores of a thousand or so punter's ears run red. Then again, the premise of post-rock is after all to discard of hooks, rulebooks and conventions, it's just a damn shame that it also happens to seem a little lost tonight. [Johnny Langlands]