The way some people talk, Mogwai shouldn't have bothered releasing anything after 2000. These people are less fortunate than the rest of us and ought to be pitied above all else, because Mogwai have made slabs and slabs of sumptuous, majestic, jaw-dropping, and sometimes downright kickass music that are not on the albums _Mogwai Young Team_ or _Come On Die Young_. Furthermore, in my book, at least, every album Mogwai has done since 2001's _Rock Action_ has been better than the previous album. Yes, Rock Action < Happy Songs < Mr. Beast < Hawk Is Howling < ...would they keep up the streak...? yes! with this year's bracing blast of Mogwai music-love, the endearingly titled _Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will_ pretty much crowns (or, "pwns," if you like) them all.
The opener "White Noise" sets the tone immediately - "Good morning, throw back the curtains, it's 2011!" The first thing to objectively notice is that it's SO much BRIGHTER than 2008's _The Hawk Is Howling_ - which, although containing 10 tracks of glistening, stupendous quality, is a bit of a ponderous behemoth taken as a whole. The 10 tracks of _Hardcore_ all sound pulsating and coruscating with LIGHT, and the listener is immediately drawn into its soundworld. The music does not care whether you want to enjoy it or not; it all OWNS you for its length, and how quickly that length goes by before the obligatorily massive closer "You're Lionel Richie" (perhaps the only relatively predictable thing on this record) caps off the ride with a classic Mogwai build before depositing you back to Earth. Thank you, come again.
_Hawk_ was their first album to have a complete absence of vocals, so it's rather striking to hear them return. Partly for this reason, perhaps the most surprising songs are the ones with vocals: "Mexican Grand Prix" and "George Square Thatcher Death Party." The former, hot on the heels of the opener "White Noise," gets things pumping with an unrelenting kraut-beat and a guest vocalist on VOCODER! Nice to hear that back in its customary texture-enriching role; since _Hawk_ had no vocals at all, I guess I had assumed that they had dropped it. The latter, five tracks later, uses an AUTOTUNER of all things, which is a move of incredible chutzpah, but it hardly matters that its standard use has long since become a tiresome pop cliche, because in Mogwai's hands, it plays a perfect role in the song in which it appears, just like all their other instrumentation always does.
Even "Rano Pano," whose original working title "Sludger" should tell you about what it sounds like, is sprightly and propulsive, and as the layers are added, keyboards finally shine above the mix and coat the song in a lovely gossamer sheen. The out-and-out rocker "San Pedro" doesn't just do the "Glasgow Mega-Snake"/"Batcat" prog-metal thing again, but has a rich sound that only adds to its rockingness. "Death Rays" is my personal favorite here, with an utterly gorgeous and delectable keyboard sound, testament once again to Barry Burns' adeptness at finding/engineering the most delicious sounds for his keys, getting the absolute most out of the instrument and pouring it all over the music with boundless largesse. Also another compelling Dominic Aitchison bassline there. Does this album have a "Friend of the Night"? I think "Death Rays" may be it. "How to Be a Werewolf" (look for the video of the shorter cut of this song) sounds like the birth of light itself. Reminiscent partly of "Yes! I Am a Long Way from Home" (leadoff track of the much-celebrated first album _Mogwai Young Team_), "Werewolf" chugs along as happy as can be behind its propulsive, melodic bass line (yay Dominic Aitchison AGAIN) without any fear or shame at being thought not cool enough for school. Again, it doesn't give a rip what you may think of it. It is what it is and if you don't like it, you may as not exist as far as it's concerned. But then what's not to like anyway?
Some people are disappointed in this album, but frankly, I don't understand them. Try for yourself...