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Mogwai

Less than a year after energizing festival goers at last summer' Fuji Rock extravaganza, latter-day art-rock hopefuls, Scotland's Mogwai, return to Japan with a brand new album, Rock Action. In an increasingly common strategy for bands touring Japan, the album's release date of Apr 23 is being timed to coincide with their Tokyo gig.

Formed by guitarist/vocalist Stuart Braithwaite and bassist Dominic Aitchison in Glasgow in 1995, Mogwai were soon being salivated over by the ever-breathless British rock press. Early singles, "Summer" and "New Paths to Helicon" saw them being hailed as a welcome antidote to the brutish posturing of Oasis et al, with NME calling them "shamelessly avant-garde," Q terming them "bold and frequently beautiful," and The Wire stating, "Though they're high on punk rock attitude, Glaswegian group Mogwai is a subdued affair, with moments of graceful beauty nestled inside gathering stormclouds."

With former Teenage Fanclub drummer Brendan O'Hare as temporary member, Mogwai released their official debut album, Young Team (Jetset), in 1997. In its extended guitar improvisations and overdubs of a girl saying, "If someone said that Mogwai are the stars I would not object. If the stars had a sound it would sound like this," the album brazenly flaunted their lofty ambitions. But the group also won the respect of their peers, with Stephen Malkmus formerly of Pavement terming them, "the best band of the 21st century," and Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth also championing their cause.

After releasing the two-disc remix collection Kicking a Dead Pig and the EP No Education No Future (Fuck the Curfew) in 1998, Mogwai returned in 1999 with their next studio album, Come On Die Young on their new label, Chemikal.

According to Mogwai's website, their forthcoming album, Rock Action is, "by far the most ambitious set of recordings that Mogwai have ever done," and features Gruff from the Super Furry Animals contributing vocals on the song, "dial:revenge."

Mogwai play Akasaka Blitz on Apr 25.
See listings for details.