Mogwai
Mogwai Fear Satan, the final track on Mogwai's album Young Team has been my favorite song for a long time. And in celebration of my re-kindling devotion for this epic, I have decided to write for 16 minutes and 19 seconds, just what comes to mind when I hear this song, and what it does for me. Skip to the last paragraph for the synopsis. I added in some links after I was done, cause you know, why not?--
The fade in of a simple, calm, soothing guitar melody. The drums slowly fade in, and the song truly begins to take flight. I've always really admired how the song begins; This song alone shows true dynamic range (sure, it's a fade-in but bear with me).
Then there's always the nice, slow rise up the major scale that the bass does about a minute in that I've always enjoyed. It's really the only musical change you see occurring. The rest is straight major to minor to major to minor. And I love every second.
The first climax hits. Shivers down my spine, as usual. I feel the bliss of night and stars in the sky; No harm can be done to me. The single guitar plays the long, distorted notes over the furious drums and bass, and it sounds like a beautiful chaos. I've tried to replicate that sound oh-so many times; And I fail each time.
It abruptly calms itself down through a falling distortion, with a single floutist slowly taking control of musical direction. It's at this time, after my mind has been blown for the first time, that I usually find myself thinking: "How?" I love this song with more dying devotion than a clergyman, but why Mogwai? I mean, I do quite like Young Team, Come On Die Young and Happy Songs for Happy People. But I've never thought of them as one of my favorite bands. I mean, why not something from one of my more favorite albums? Why not the best cut off Quadrophenia? How does a song by band who I like manage to mean so much more to me than even my most favorite release by one of my top bands -- Not only that, my most favorite release ever? How does a 16-minute instrumental that doesn't have the air-tight packaging of an album like Quadrophenia manage to run side by side with it? How can I like this to the extent that I like it?
Aside from that, my mind is focused on this flute. I've heard some incredible floutists in my day, due to being at a high-school where you have those random overachievers. But hell, this is the only flute solo, I really care about. Even then, I played it once and my flute-playing comrade played along - It sounded great. Maybe it's just the melody with a flute that gets me. Maybe this flute player is nothing special. It's just this that gets me.
Second climax. Fucking hell. Every time, I can't help but smile at the chaos the band lays out before me... It's absolute bliss, to just feel wrapped in this simplistic melody, and have it take you to such supreme heights in so many ways -- Once again, a single guitar begins to maniacally play the riff, with another guitar maniacally playing a distorted riff in the background. The interplay should seem evil, or just stupid. But it just feels right. Then, the guitar hits that one little high note, right before the drums start hitting roto-toms (I think...). That fucking kills me. Another shiver down the spine, as the drums completely take over the song, and the guitar slowly allows them to take responsibility until the climax settles, and the flute is able to regain control. The guitars are still painstakingly beautiful -- Even as they finally allow the flute to gain footing, it's just incredible what they manage to accomplish.
For over a minute, the guitars still gently throw little phrases in over the flutes simple melody line, one that I've since memorized. But that doesn't allow the predictability to take anything away from it. It's still always a perfect listen. The tribal drums create the perfect situation for a gentle flute melody -- It feels like a campfire with friends. It feels like some sort of outing -- Some sort of arrangement where you're outside, and you just couldn't care less what happens around you. You feel a sublime happiness that negates everything. Sure, I could feel unhappiness when listening to this. But it somehow dampens it.
That brings me to my final point, as the guitar begins to bring in the distortion, which will slowly take over the song as it closes, I always think of the language I use to describe this song. 'Somehow', 'how', all of these words that don't give any real reason. Which makes me solemnly think that I really will never understand WHY I like this song so much. What is it? Why do I even bother asking? It's given me so much, but I stand here, attempting to dissect what it is. Can I ever really understand? I guess I'll have to sound like a toddler here; It just does. That's all. Mogwai Fear Satan just does. Even with my second favorite song, I understand generally why it evokes such promise to me. This song... Beats me. It just is.
