Mogwai Young Team
Encyclopedia
Mogwai Young Team is the debut studio album
by Scottish post-rock
band Mogwai
.
(now known as Chem19 Studios) in Hamilton
, Scotland, and was produced by Paul Savage
and Andy Miller
. It is largely instrumental
, with one notable exception ("R U Still in 2 It", which features vocals from Aidan Moffat
of Arab Strap
), although many songs feature recordings of various individuals speaking, whether over the phone ("Tracy
"), reading ("Yes! I Am a Long Way from Home"), or just rambling ("Katrien"). It features limited instrumentation, consisting mainly of guitar
, bass
and drums
, although other instruments can sometimes be heard throughout the album, such as glockenspiel
("Tracy"), piano
("Radar Maker", "With Portfolio", "A Cheery Wave from Stranded Youngsters") and flute
("Mogwai Fear Satan
"). The band had only written three of the songs before they entered the studio.
Mogwai Young Team was listed at #97 on Pitchfork Media
's Top 100 Albums of the 1990s. The album sold more than 30,000 copies in the UK.
The "MYT" logo found inside the cover was created by Adam Piggot. The MYT logo is based on a popular mark used by young gangs in Glasgow, Scotland, a "Youth Team" is specific to an area "Sighthill Youth Team" for example. The Japanese sign on the cover reads "Fuji Bank
". The picture was taken and inverted by Brendan O'Hare
.
, Dominic Aitchison
, Martin Bulloch
, and John Cummings
, except "R U Still in 2 It", lyrics by Aidan Moffat
.
label, packaged as a remaster of the original album with a second disc containing rare tracks from the Young Team sessions and live recordings. Of the second disc, only "Young Face Gone Wrong" was previously unreleased, the following three tracks had earlier appeared on various compilation albums and other releases.
Additional musicians
Production
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by Scottish post-rock
Post-rock
Post-rock is a subgenre of rock music characterized by the influence and use of instruments commonly associated with rock, but using rhythms and "guitars as facilitators of timbre and textures" not traditionally found in rock...
band Mogwai
Mogwai
The word mogwai is the transliteration of the Cantonese word 魔怪 meaning "monster", "evil spirit", "devil" or "demon".-Mogwai/Mogui in Chinese culture:...
.
Overview
Mogwai Young Team was recorded in Summer 1997 at MCM StudiosChemikal Underground
Chemikal Underground is an independent record label set up in 1994 by Glasgow, Scotland rock band The Delgados. It was set up to release their first single, "Monica Webster" / "Brand New Car" and went on to break many new Scottish bands in the nineties....
(now known as Chem19 Studios) in Hamilton
Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
Hamilton is a town in South Lanarkshire, in the west-central Lowlands of Scotland. It serves as the main administrative centre of the South Lanarkshire council area. It is the fifth-biggest town in Scotland after Paisley, East Kilbride, Livingston and Cumbernauld...
, Scotland, and was produced by Paul Savage
Paul Savage
Paul Savage is a Scottish musician and record producer, best known for being the drummer in the Scottish indie rock group The Delgados.-Early life:...
and Andy Miller
Andy Miller (record producer)
Andy Miller is a record producer based in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Miller is noted for his production on influential albums by Mogwai, Life Without Buildings, Arab Strap, The Delgados, Scout Niblett, Songs: Ohia, Sons And Daughters, De Rosa and Desert Hearts.He is freelance, but has mainly...
. It is largely instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
, with one notable exception ("R U Still in 2 It", which features vocals from Aidan Moffat
Aidan Moffat
Aidan John Moffat is a Scottish vocalist and musician, best known for his work with Malcolm Middleton in Arab Strap.-Early life:...
of Arab Strap
Arab Strap (band)
Arab Strap were an indie rock band from Scotland that consisted of core members Aidan Moffat and Malcolm Middleton. The band were signed to independent record label Chemikal Underground, and split in 2006...
), although many songs feature recordings of various individuals speaking, whether over the phone ("Tracy
Tracy (Mogwai song)
"Tracy" is a song on the Scottish post-rock band Mogwai's 1997 debut album, Mogwai Young Team. The song was written by the band's guitarists Stuart Braithwaite and John Cummings and bassist Dominic Aitchison prior to the 1997 Mogwai Young Team recording sessions.The song features glockenspiel,...
"), reading ("Yes! I Am a Long Way from Home"), or just rambling ("Katrien"). It features limited instrumentation, consisting mainly of guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, although other instruments can sometimes be heard throughout the album, such as glockenspiel
Glockenspiel
A glockenspiel is a percussion instrument composed of a set of tuned keys arranged in the fashion of the keyboard of a piano. In this way, it is similar to the xylophone; however, the xylophone's bars are made of wood, while the glockenspiel's are metal plates or tubes, and making it a metallophone...
("Tracy"), piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
("Radar Maker", "With Portfolio", "A Cheery Wave from Stranded Youngsters") and flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
("Mogwai Fear Satan
Mogwai Fear Satan
"Mogwai Fear Satan" is a song by Scottish post-rock group Mogwai, which ends their 1997 debut studio album, Mogwai Young Team.-Overview:...
"). The band had only written three of the songs before they entered the studio.
Mogwai Young Team was listed at #97 on Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
's Top 100 Albums of the 1990s. The album sold more than 30,000 copies in the UK.
The "MYT" logo found inside the cover was created by Adam Piggot. The MYT logo is based on a popular mark used by young gangs in Glasgow, Scotland, a "Youth Team" is specific to an area "Sighthill Youth Team" for example. The Japanese sign on the cover reads "Fuji Bank
Fuji Bank
The was one of Japan's major banks during the post-World War II era. It combined with Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank and the Industrial Bank of Japan in 2000 to form Mizuho Financial Group, and changed its name to Mizuho Corporate Bank in 2002 after transferring its retail banking operations to Mizuho...
". The picture was taken and inverted by Brendan O'Hare
Brendan O'Hare
Brendan O'Hare is a Scottish musician, best known as drummer in the Scottish rock band Teenage Fanclub from 1990 until early 1994.-Career:...
.
Track listing
All tracks were written by Stuart BraithwaiteStuart Braithwaite
Stuart Leslie Braithwaite is a Scottish guitarist, bassist, drummer, singer and songwriter. He is best known as the guitarist of post rock band Mogwai, with whom he has recorded seven studio albums.-Early life :...
, Dominic Aitchison
Dominic Aitchison
Dominic Aitchison is a Scottish bassist. He is best known as the bassist and founding member of post-rock band Mogwai. Aside from Mogwai, he also plays bass guitar in Crippled Black Phoenix and Stage Blood....
, Martin Bulloch
Martin Bulloch
Martin Bulloch is a Scottish musician, best known for being a member of Mogwai.-Early life:Bulloch was born in Bellshill, South Lanarkshire. He was once a cook at a Chinese Restaurant in Glasgow.-Mogwai:...
, and John Cummings
John Cummings (musician)
John Cummings is a Scottish musician and record producer, best known for being a member of Glaswegian band Mogwai, mostly playing guitar, as well as programming, keyboards and vocals.-Mogwai:...
, except "R U Still in 2 It", lyrics by Aidan Moffat
Aidan Moffat
Aidan John Moffat is a Scottish vocalist and musician, best known for his work with Malcolm Middleton in Arab Strap.-Early life:...
.
- "Yes! I Am a Long Way from HomeYes! I Am a Long Way from Home"Yes! I Am a Long Way from Home" is the opening track on the Scottish alternative rock band Mogwai's 1997 debut album, Mogwai Young Team. It was primarily composed by the band's bassist, Dominic Aitchison, prior to the 1997 Mogwai Young Team recording sessions.The song features electric guitar,...
" – 5:57 - "Like HerodLike Herod"Like Herod" is a song by Scottish post-rock Mogwai from their 1997 debut studio album, Mogwai Young Team, written by Stuart Braithwaite, Dominic Aitchison, John Cummings and Martin Bulloch. As well as being a fan-favourite, the song is a live staple, and an extreme display of Mogwai's quiet/loud...
" – 11:41 - "Katrien" – 5:24
- "Radar Maker" – 1:35
- "Tracy" – 7:19
- "Summer" (Priority Version) – 3:28
- "With Portfolio" – 3:10
- "R U Still in 2 It" – 7:20
- "A Cheery Wave from Stranded Youngsters" – 2:18
- "Mogwai Fear SatanMogwai Fear Satan"Mogwai Fear Satan" is a song by Scottish post-rock group Mogwai, which ends their 1997 debut studio album, Mogwai Young Team.-Overview:...
" – 16:19
Re-release
Mogwai Young Team was re-released in May 2008 on the Chemikal UndergroundChemikal Underground
Chemikal Underground is an independent record label set up in 1994 by Glasgow, Scotland rock band The Delgados. It was set up to release their first single, "Monica Webster" / "Brand New Car" and went on to break many new Scottish bands in the nineties....
label, packaged as a remaster of the original album with a second disc containing rare tracks from the Young Team sessions and live recordings. Of the second disc, only "Young Face Gone Wrong" was previously unreleased, the following three tracks had earlier appeared on various compilation albums and other releases.
- "Young Face Gone Wrong" – 2:58
- "I Don't Know What to Say" – 1:15
- "I Can't Remember" – 3:14
- "Honey" – 4:18
- "Katrien" (Live) – 5:31
- "R U Still in 2 It" (Live) – 8:01
- "Like Herod" (Live) – 7:53
- "Summer (Priority)" (Live) – 2:59
- "Mogwai Fear Satan" (Live) – 10:26
Personnel
Mogwai- Stuart BraithwaiteStuart BraithwaiteStuart Leslie Braithwaite is a Scottish guitarist, bassist, drummer, singer and songwriter. He is best known as the guitarist of post rock band Mogwai, with whom he has recorded seven studio albums.-Early life :...
(listed as "pLasmatroN" in the liner notes) – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, glockenspielGlockenspielA glockenspiel is a percussion instrument composed of a set of tuned keys arranged in the fashion of the keyboard of a piano. In this way, it is similar to the xylophone; however, the xylophone's bars are made of wood, while the glockenspiel's are metal plates or tubes, and making it a metallophone... - Dominic AitchisonDominic AitchisonDominic Aitchison is a Scottish bassist. He is best known as the bassist and founding member of post-rock band Mogwai. Aside from Mogwai, he also plays bass guitar in Crippled Black Phoenix and Stage Blood....
(listed as "DEMONIC" in the liner notes) – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Martin BullochMartin BullochMartin Bulloch is a Scottish musician, best known for being a member of Mogwai.-Early life:Bulloch was born in Bellshill, South Lanarkshire. He was once a cook at a Chinese Restaurant in Glasgow.-Mogwai:...
(listed as "bionic" in the liner notes) – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - John CummingsJohn Cummings (musician)John Cummings is a Scottish musician and record producer, best known for being a member of Glaswegian band Mogwai, mostly playing guitar, as well as programming, keyboards and vocals.-Mogwai:...
(listed as "Cpt. Meat" in the liner notes) – guitar - Brendan O'HareBrendan O'HareBrendan O'Hare is a Scottish musician, best known as drummer in the Scottish rock band Teenage Fanclub from 1990 until early 1994.-Career:...
(listed as "+the relic+" in the liner notes) – pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, guitar
Additional musicians
- Barry BurnsBarry BurnsBarry Burns is a Scottish musician best known for his work with post-rock band Mogwai.-Early life:Burns went to Cardinal Newman High School in Bellshill before enrolling with the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, taking up a Bachelor of Education degree in teaching music. He did...
– backmaskedBackmaskingBackmasking is a recording technique in which a sound or message is recorded backward on to a track that is meant to be played forward...
monologueMonologueIn theatre, a monologue is a speech presented by a single character, most often to express their thoughts aloud, though sometimes also to directly address another character or the audience. Monologues are common across the range of dramatic media...
on "Yes! I Am a Long Way from Home" - Mari Myren – monologueMonologueIn theatre, a monologue is a speech presented by a single character, most often to express their thoughts aloud, though sometimes also to directly address another character or the audience. Monologues are common across the range of dramatic media...
on "Yes! I Am a Long Way from Home" - Aidan MoffatAidan MoffatAidan John Moffat is a Scottish vocalist and musician, best known for his work with Malcolm Middleton in Arab Strap.-Early life:...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
on "R U Still in 2 It" - Shona Brown – fluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
on "Mogwai Fear Satan"
Production
- Paul SavagePaul SavagePaul Savage is a Scottish musician and record producer, best known for being the drummer in the Scottish indie rock group The Delgados.-Early life:...
– producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Andy MillerAndy Miller (record producer)Andy Miller is a record producer based in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Miller is noted for his production on influential albums by Mogwai, Life Without Buildings, Arab Strap, The Delgados, Scout Niblett, Songs: Ohia, Sons And Daughters, De Rosa and Desert Hearts.He is freelance, but has mainly...
– producer - Keith Cameron – liner notes (for 2008 deluxe reissue)
Release history
| Country | Release date | Record label | Format | Catalogue # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 21 October 1997 | Jet Set | CD | TWA07CD |
| 2LP | TWA07 | |||
| United Kingdom | 28 October 1997 | Chemikal Underground | CD | CHEM018CD |
| 2LP | CHEM018 | |||
| Australia/New Zealand | Spunk | CD | URA013 | |
| United Kingdom | 26 May 2008 | Chemikal Underground | 2CD reissue | CHEM106CD |
| 4LP box set | CHEM106 |