The Hawk Is Howling
Encyclopedia
The Hawk Is Howling is the sixth studio album by Scottish post-rock
band Mogwai
, released on 22 September 2008 through Wall of Sound
, Play It Again Sam
, and Matador
in the UK, Europe, and the USA, respectively. It was released in Australia through Spunk Records on 27 September 2008.
It is their first album to feature exclusively instrumental
songs, since their earlier albums all have had vocals (singing or spoken word) on some tracks.
The album peaked at number 35 in the UK Album Charts and 97 on the Billboard 200
.
at Chem19 Studios in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
, Scotland and mixed by Garth Jones at Castle of Doom Studios
in Glasgow
, Scotland between September 2007—March 2008. The album marks the first time in ten years that the band worked with Andy Miller, and at Chem19 Studios, since recording the song "Small Children in the Background" for the No Education = No Future (Fuck the Curfew)
EP in May 1998.
Several new compositions were debuted at a show for the Triptych Festival at Tramway
in Glasgow
, Scotland in April 2008—"The Precipice", "I Love You, I'm Going to Blow Up Your School", "I'm Jim Morrison, I'm Dead", "Thank You Space Expert", "Batcat" and "Scotland's Shame".
The Limited Edition contains the documentation "Adelia, I Want To Love: A Film About Mogwai by Vincent Moon
and Teresa Eggers," the Dominic Hailstone-directed "Batcat" video, and the video "Batcat Animation" created by Fernando Alberto Mena Rojas.
Additional personnel
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:...
, released on 22 September 2008 through Wall of Sound
Wall of Sound (record label)
Wall of Sound is an independent record label based in London, England. It is part of the [PIAS] Entertainment Group, a European independent music company....
, Play It Again Sam
Play It Again Sam (record label)
[PIAS] Recordings is the recorded music division of the [PIAS] Entertainment Group, a European independent artist and label services company.The record labels that operate under the [PIAS] Recordings umbrella are: Play It Again Sam, Wall of Sound and Different Recordings.Aside from the three London...
, and Matador
Matador Records
Matador Records is an independent record label, with a roster of indie rock artists and bands.-History:Matador was started by Chris Lombardi in 1989 in his New York City apartment. The following year, Lombardi was joined by former Homestead Records manager Gerard Cosloy, and the two of them have...
in the UK, Europe, and the USA, respectively. It was released in Australia through Spunk Records on 27 September 2008.
It is their first album to feature exclusively 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....
songs, since their earlier albums all have had vocals (singing or spoken word) on some tracks.
The album peaked at number 35 in the UK Album Charts and 97 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
.
Writing and recording
The album was recorded and produced by 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...
at Chem19 Studios in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
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 mixed by Garth Jones at Castle of Doom Studios
Castle of Doom Studios
Castle of Doom Studios, created in 2005 by record producer Tony Doogan and Mogwai, is a recording studio in Glasgow, Scotland.-Overview:It has been used by such artists as Mogwai, Malcolm Middleton, The Magnificents, Belle & Sebastian, Dirty Pretty Things, and Errors. The studios are located on...
in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland between September 2007—March 2008. The album marks the first time in ten years that the band worked with Andy Miller, and at Chem19 Studios, since recording the song "Small Children in the Background" for the No Education = No Future (Fuck the Curfew)
No Education = No Future (Fuck the Curfew)
No Education = No Future is an EP by Scottish post-rock group Mogwai, released in the UK through Chemikal Underground in 1998.- Overview :No Education = No Future is Mogwai's second EP...
EP in May 1998.
Several new compositions were debuted at a show for the Triptych Festival at Tramway
Tramway (arts centre)
Tramway is a contemporary visual and performing arts venue located in the Scottish city of Glasgow. Based in a former tram depot in the Pollokshields area of the South Side, it consists of two performance spaces and two galleries, as well as The Hidden Garden and offering facilities for community...
in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland in April 2008—"The Precipice", "I Love You, I'm Going to Blow Up Your School", "I'm Jim Morrison, I'm Dead", "Thank You Space Expert", "Batcat" and "Scotland's Shame".
Track listing
All tracks composed by Mogwai.- "I'm Jim Morrison, I'm Dead" – 6:46
- "Batcat" – 5:23
- "Danphe and the Brain" – 5:18
- "Local Authority" – 4:15
- "The Sun Smells Too Loud" – 6:58
- "Kings Meadow" – 4:42
- "I Love You, I'm Going to Blow Up Your School" – 7:33
- "Scotland's Shame" – 8:00
- "Thank You Space Expert" – 7:55
- "The Precipice" – 6:42
- "Dracula Family" (Japanese Bonus Track) - 6:03
- "Stupid Prick Gets Chased by the Police and Loses His Slut Girlfriend" (Japanese Bonus Track) - 5:09
- "Devil Rides" (feat. Roky Erickson of 13th Floor Elevators13th Floor ElevatorsThe 13th Floor Elevators were an American rock band from Austin, Texas formed by guitarist and vocalist Roky Erickson, electric jug player Tommy Hall, and guitarist Stacy Sutherland, which existed from 1965 to 1969...
) (Japanese Bonus Track) - 4:00
The Limited Edition contains the documentation "Adelia, I Want To Love: A Film About Mogwai by Vincent Moon
Vincent Moon
Vincent Moon is an independent filmmaker from Paris mainly known for his field work music videos of indie rock related musicians as well as some notable mainstream artists like Tom Jones, R.E.M. or Arcade Fire. Besides making music videos he also makes experimental films and documentaries...
and Teresa Eggers," the Dominic Hailstone-directed "Batcat" video, and the video "Batcat Animation" created by Fernando Alberto Mena Rojas.
Personnel
Mogwai- 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....
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - 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 :...
– 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... - 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:...
– 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 .... - 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...
– guitar, keyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - 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:...
– guitar
Additional personnel
- James Aparicio – mixing assistance
- Nadia Bradley – photography and design
- Tony Doogan – recording of "The Sun Smells Too Loud"
- Gareth JonesGareth Jones (music producer)Gareth Jones is an English music producer and engineer notable for working with Depeche Mode, Einstürzende Neubauten, Wire and Erasure.-Background:Gareth Jones is married and currently living in North London....
– mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may... - 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...
– 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... - Andi Whitelock – recording of bowed mandolin on "Scotland's Shame"