This concert footage of Mogwai in New York is a superb showcase for this excellent band. Shot in stark black and white, the images are mainly limited to shots of the group and audience in close up. This lends an intimacy to proceedings which works well alongside the music. The selection of songs is quite simply terrific. Completely lyric-less, Mogwai's sound is sheets of distorted guitars accompanied with insistent repetitive beats, clearly influenced by Tremelo/Loveless era My Bloody Valentine. It's an exceptional and powerful concoction, that's often trance-like in it's effect. Songs such as Mogwai Fear Satan are perfect examples of what this band are all about and are definitive examples of space rock.
The images that accompany the music are basic but, in fairness, this is in essence a concert film. It's just that it's presented in a stripped down way, with an emphasis on shots that capture the intimacy of seeing the band live. There is no between song banter or proper breaks, the music just flows together with only shots of the crowd and the streets outside the venue interrupting the images of the group playing. It would be very interesting to see how Mogwai's expansive and highly emotive music would play alongside other kinds of imagery designed purely as a visual accompaniment. But this is not such a film so you have to accept it for what it is. Nevertheless, the imagery on display is artistically presented in a way that is uncommon for most concert films. It does capture a lot more of the essence of Mogwai's sound than a straight concert film ever could.
Ultimately, this probably will be of interest only for fans of the group but personally I thought it was tremendous.
Track list:
1. The Precipice
2. I'm Jim Morrison, I'm Dead
3. Hunted By a Freak
4. Like Herod
5. New Paths to Helicon Part 1
6. Mogwai Fear Satan
7. Scotland's Shame
8. Batcat
