EARTH DIVISION

This is an EP released shortly after Mogwai's impressive Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will album in 2011. It has similar album cover graphics, but musically it is very much a separate entity, although complementary. It contains four tracks totaling around 16 minutes, and all four of these tracks show Mogwai in their "mellow mode", with string arrangements on every track, playing a more central role than usual for Mogwai. The first track, "Get To France", is an instrumental based on a simple quiet piano theme. The following ""Hound of Winter" is the only track with vocals, and is based around an acoustic guitar. "Drunk and Crazy" turns up the juice just a little bit, being a placid track but clouded with sheets of white guitar noise and strings. And finally there is "Does This Always Happen?", bringing all the prior elements together into a typical, albeit quiet, Mogwai mood piece.

Overall the EP is underwhelming, but for those who are fans and can hear this EP in its proper context, it will be a necessary addition to your collection. Nowhere else is Mogwai so pastoral and just plain relaxing over an entire release (though the Zidane soundtrack comes close). None of their trademark quiet-to-loud eruptions here; though in reality they've kind of moved away from that tendency on recent albums anyway. I wish it were a little bit longer, but what's here is very pretty indeed and will not cause any raised eyebrows at your next dinner party.