Friday, May 5, 2006

MOGWAI"Mr. Beast''Matador

FOR A BAND that seldom employs lyrics, Mogwai certainly has a way with words. "Mr. Beast" is an impeccable title for the Scottish quintet's fifth album, which combines the stately delicacy of middle-European classical music with the militant implacability of northern-British heavy metal. Compositions such as "Auto Rock" begin with rippling piano, which is gradually deluged by roaring guitar. The goal -- expressed even more emphatically in concert -- is to make music that retains hard rock's power while jettisoning its traditional form.

Like most "post-rock," however, Mogwai's music is too often defined by what's lacking. For all the intensity of tracks such as "Glasgow Mega-Snake," the band seems limited by its own style, in part because its rhythmic range is so narrow. On "Mr. Beast," the numbers that stand out are those that disarm the musical juggernaut, allowing humanity to intrude. They include "Travel Is Dangerous," which adds vocals to the group's customary attack; "Acid Food," an uncanny meld of beatbox, pedal steel and vocodered singing; and "I Chose Horses," which features a recitation in Japanese by Tetsuya Fukagawa, whose group Envy makes music akin to Mogwai's but more varied. Mixing things up can be fruitful, and after a decade of austere din, Mogwai should try it more often.

-- Mark Jenkins

Appearing Wednesday at the 9:30 club.