Mogwai make music that soothes and disrupts one’s soul at the same time. They make you think about your past, your experiences, but also the times that lie ahead, fear and excitement of the unknown. You cannot help but feel lonesome, yet somehow hopeful when listening to Mogwai. All of this is usually done within the span of one track.

Chiming guitars cascade gradually in and out of a “song,” meandering a bit, often just before exploding into an aura of white noise, eventually fading to a serene stillness that never quite ends. Barely there drums thunk sinisterly as an ominous baseline winds and weaves, relenting only to the contrasting beauty of the melodic guitars.

Titles such as “Stanley Kubrick” and “Small Children in the Background” express absolutely nothing about their content, yet seem strangely apt for no apparent reason. I have not been able to get these tunes out of my head for weeks but find that oddly comforting. Did I mention there are no vocals whatsoever? Intriguing, to say the least.