The Bad Fire
If The Bad Fire was a film, I already know I would love it.
As always, Mogawi put on a display a show with The Bad Fire. With hardly any lyrics and sticking largely to the same tried, tested, and true instruments, Mogwai is able to paint a picture clearer than most. Listening to The Bad Fire (or really any of their albums), it is not hard to visualize the soundscapes they are creating: dying, colliding, and reborn planets; ariel fly-overs of long, twisted rivers hidden by dark mountain ranges; wandering moss-covered robots; and burning cities. The music they create truly feels too grandiose for this small world of ours. Nothing that exists on this plane of ours comes close to feeling as monumental as Mogwai sounds on The Bad Fire.
One of The Bad Fire’s strengths that stood out was the pacing. There is so much control to Mogwai’s chaos on the record. From the tasteful climaxes to the length of the tracks (which no longer surpass 10 minutes - an issue on their previous albums), The Bad Fire shows that Mogwai truly has mastered the perfect cinematic post-rock song. The slow-builds are not too longwinded. You can feel the song’s progression at all times. I can often struggle with this genre when the construction of the song is so slow that you loose the plot while listening. But in The Bad Fire, even longest (and lyricless) track on the record (7.5 minutes-long) If You Think This World Is Bad, You Should See Some Others is likely my favorite.
Another noteable highlight is that half-scary half-sexy Hi Chaos melody. It is the perfect transition from the introduction of God Gets You Back (which really does function like the exposition of the story) and the first bit of rising action in the album. The melody on Pale Vegan Hip Pain (one of the best song names on the record, alongside Lion Rumpus) is likewise very memorable, and serves as the calm before the storm of If You Think This World Is Bad, You Should See Some Others. Lastly, the synths on Fact Boy creates a serene, faded-out closing track that experiments with some distortions towards the end, leaving us with just the right amount of disturb and uncertainty that suits the album’s overall vibe.
The Bad Fire is a testament to Mogwai’s near-three decade experience in the post-rock scene. The album feels authentic to the band’s niche and history, though simultaneously capable of grasping the attention of new fans with it’s timeless talent and perfect production. After all, Mogwai really is for anyone who can appreciate sonic storytelling.
