Mogwai Government Commissions (BBC Sessions 1996-2003)

I first heard about a strangely named gang of Scottish apocalypse rockers about the time I was finishing university and heading down to London, the inevitable path of Redbrick grads who, like me, think that if it doesn't have a compass point in the postcode, it's not worth knowing about. It's probably a sign of my callow musical taste, or perhaps that my last two years of uni were typically spent listening to Klub Klassics while wrecked or to the obscurest and trendiest nonsense some pothead mate or another had pulled out of his backside, that I got into to Mogwai, one of the most important and influential bands of the last decade, several years after our esteemed Broadcasting Corporation did. More specifically the sadly departed John Peel and his colleague Steve Lamacq both devoted considerable time to promoting the Glaswegian outfit, who in the rich tradition of the Jesus and Mary Chain, Cocteau Twins, the Beta Band or Boards of Canada, continued to prove that much of the most innovative music in these isles comes from more northern outposts.

What was clearest about the 'Gwai from an earlier stage was how much they meant it. Lead guitarist and musical supremo Stuart Braithwaite promoted the band with t-shirts declaring 'blur: are shite', and then went on to explain that if it ever went to court he had the musical training to prove it. When they were invited to record for the Evening Session, the brilliant showcase on national radio started by, of all people, Mark Goodyear, and tragically buried by the moronic 'dj' (ahem) Zane Lowe, they produced the monstrous, staggering, 18-minute epic Like Herod. Live, Mogwai are supreme. I saw them at Kentish Town once and audience members were unable to either watch or hear much of the set, so intense was the world-ending noise and light emanating from the stage. There are rumours of people losing control of their bowels at early gigs.

Their early recordings, collected on Ten Rapid, or 1997's magisterial Young Team were marked by quiet and occasionally inaudible intricacies set in counterpoint to demonic explosions of guitar and bass noise. The 'Gwai were a monster, sitting quietly, grotesquely beautiful at times, before a nod of Braithwaite's head would send them into a murderous, bloody rage. Contemplation would follow, like a beast picking the flesh of another victim from its teeth. No one could match them for sheer power. Change was inevitable; 1999's Come On Die Young was notable for decreasing reliance on shock tactics and evermore recherché titles, as well as increased comment on the state of music in general - Puff Daddy, they argued, was the antichrist. Brilliantly then, with 2001's Rock Action, they reworked the pattern. By introducing subtle electronic percussion, Gruff Rhys' unmistakable voice, and strange musings on aliens over Glasgow, they revealed complexity and depth not seen before and further showcased on their 20-minute manifesto-single, My Father My King. Then, just to prove that they hadn't mellowed, 2003's Happy Songs For Happy People was like a 'best of' only without any old tracks, instead demonstrating everything that they could do better than anyone else.

Government Commissions offers a panorama of Mogwai to date. The opening and closing tracks, Hunted by a Freak and Stop Coming To My House date from their final sessions with Mr Peel, recorded at Maida Vale in 2003. Included also are early recordings from the Young Team era. What's interesting about these sessions is that while vicious axe wielding is showcased on tracks such as Like Herod (try to avoid being alone about six minutes into it), it's also clear that the increased subtlety and layering found on Rock Action has clear precedents on the earlier work once these are stripped of the on-stage audio barrage. They're not always (gasp!) scary.

If you have everything by the Scottish gang of five, this is good excuse to remind yourself of their genius in different circumstances. If you are new to them, then it is a fine introduction to a band whose importance and integrity over the years is unquestionable. Come on...