It only seems like five minutes since Mogwai last played in Manchester at the 6Music Festival. They released their latest album over a year ago and are still touring in support of it. What started off in the UK has also taken in Asia, Europe and North and South America and sees them back in the UK for another extensive tour and back in Manchester less than a year since they last played here.
Forest Swords start off with ambient field recordings. It is moderately interesting but after five minutes of not really going anywhere, that interest dissipates. The second track is similar but actually has a gentle throbbing beat to carry it along. The third track has a very deliberate beat but it at least has a bit of heft behind it. The dubby fourth track is where it starts to make sense. The zither on this track reminds me a little of Björk's 'All Is Full Of Love'. The beats gradually get louder, heavier and bassier as the set progresses. The sole flickering light behind him (for Forest Swords is the solo project of Matthew Barnes) is atmospheric but when you look up at the ceiling you see the patterns which they create. It's pretty cool but probably only for those is the first few rows like myself. There are spiritual vocals which are clipped and used in interesting ways but again, too much of it doesn't go anywhere. The parts with deep, heavy beats are great but there aren't enough of them for my liking. There's a compelling set in there somewhere but there is way too much faffing around. The increasing hum of chattering voices suggests that I'm not the only one who is struggling to engage. The closing track sounds like a closing theme to an eighties b-movie and is excellent but I feel like I'm more inclined to judge the set on the moments of inactivity rather than the moments that are good.
Mogwai open with 'God Gets You Back'. The synths and vocoder laden vocals add some artificial beauty but it still possesses a power that the studio version doesn't have. I can already feel the vibrations through my feet. 'Hi Chaos' opens darkly but shimmering guitars shine through before we're back with the melancholy again, cycling between the two parts before building to a crushing crescendo. The distortion heavy climax and frantic drumming of 'Summer' is thrilling. Mogwai specialise in mixing the quiet and loud so the predominantly quiet tracks such as 'Pale Vegan Hip Pain' and 'Hunted By A Freak' lose some of their impact without that contrast. 'Mogwai Fear Satan' is impossibly loud from the start but when they slow it right down and turn the volume down, it is stunning but you need to brace yourself for when the distortion kicks in again. Mogwai change their set every evening so I feel especially blessed that we get three of their longest and heaviest songs tonight. 'Satan' is the first of the trio and this, 'Like Herod' and encore 'My Father, My King' clock in at roughly 45 minutes of pure noise. The beat of 'May Nothing But Happiness Come Through Your Door' ticks ominously like a malevolent mantelpiece clock. The crowd isn't particularly respectful during the the quieter passages as there is far too much chatting and hollering. The vocals and more conventional song structure of 'Ritchie Sacramento' stands out. The twinkling yet overdriven pop of 'Fanzine Made Of Flesh' is joyous. The stomping power of 'Remurdered' is immense anyway but when the electronics kick in it is a real wow moment. The final two tracks sees the intensity ratcheted up The screeching, swirling climax of regular set closer 'Like Herod' is colossal whilst the sprawling, epic encore 'My Father, My King' is monstrously heavy, and this final thirty minutes sends me home extremely satisfied.
Mogwai ****
Forest Swords **
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