Review Summary: Bleak beauty.
Earth Division is a 4 song EP that arrives just over half a year later than Mogwai's most recent LP, Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will, yet its sound may suggest otherwise. Stylistically, Earth Division is a retread of much of the sound explored in 2001's Rock Action, and that's not a bad thing. After the disappointingly bland Come On Die Young, Mogwai made a record that experimented beyond the traditional intense-rock formula, introducing crafty electronic elements atop a darkly beautiful backdrop. Rock Action didn't match the powerful heights of Mogwai's debut album (Young Team), but it stood as a unique example of how to do something different while still building upon already perfected techniques.
Now, a decade later, comes Earth Division. Perhaps the most cohesive of Mogwai's recent efforts, this EP maintains a strong focus towards the mellow end of the experimental rock spectrum. There are no balls-out rock jams -- a la "Glasgow Mega-Snake" -- to be found here, and there's little variety to be had, but that's partly forgiven considering the short run-time. Instead, Mogwai embrace a bleak and beautiful sound much like that of Rock Action, and it is achieved by a heavy inclusion of minor-key piano tunes and emotional strings. The opening track, "Get to France", attempts to makes us aware of this from the start. The piano in this song is melodic, however there's little else to say about it. Quite an uninspired opener, "Get to France" sounds like a nice instrumental component of what should be a much grander song with more to say than simply "here's a sweet tune". Think "Friend of the Night" with less momentum. Though pretty, "Get to France" doesn't go anywhere, however it does serve as a warning of what's to come from this EP -- don't expect too much, and you might really enjoy what's on offer.
The second track on Earth Division, "Hound of Winter", is a folky song with beautifully crafted instrumentals. An acoustic guitar takes prominence here, complemented by harmonica, strings and again, piano. The piano is more subtle than was found on the opening track, giving the song a rather organic quality -- one can imagine a band member sitting in the background with a keyboard, improvising in a jam session. Very pretty, yet melancholic. What makes this song stand out is the inclusion of vocals, which is both a blessing and a curse. The singing is endearing and in-keeping with the tone of the instruments (the song is reminiscent of "Secret Pint"), yet the lyrics are so lazy and meaningless such that the beauty of the song is hindered, leaving the would-be gorgeous strings sounding somewhat contrived and melodramatic. Ignore the lyrics, however, and this might just be your favourite track.
The latter half of Earth Division is where Mogwai really come into their own. The third track, "Drunk and Crazy", is the best by a significant margin, and "Does This Always Happen?" feels like a natural continuation of it. To acknowledge the Rock Action comparisons, "Drunk and Crazy" sounds like a throwback to songs like "Sine Wave" and "Robot Chant". Brooding, electronic noise pulsates through your ears, and it's rather captivating. This is further expanded upon, too, by incorporating those lush string and piano elements displayed in the first two tracks. In doing this, Mogwai's latest EP feels like not only an imitation but a culmination of what the band has been working towards during their career.
All in all, Earth Division is a worthwhile purchase given its price point and accessibility. There's nothing too interesting or experimental here, but there's little to strongly dislike either. The building intensity that Mogwai became known for is dead and gone, but fans who enjoy the band's more mellow side can't really go wrong with this EP.
. As far as getting into Mogwai, it's pretty difficult because you might find you only like one album when there's so many others to choose from; you may end up picking the wrong one. Go with Young Team above anything else though, if you haven't already. Mogwai are far from the best instrumental band out there, but they're quite unique in their indie style, which does appeal to some.
