Mogwai are one of the most heralded and significant Scottish acts of recent times (it also doesn’t hurt that they’re perhaps as superb now as they’ve ever been), specialising in evocative, towering instrumentals that often feel filmic in nature.
For that reason it’s perhaps of little surprise that the concert film Burning has been created courtesy of film-makers Vincent Moon and Nataniel La Souanec. It will be screened at the Glasgow Film Festival later this month, and an accompanying live album Special Moves will be released this spring on the band's own Rock Action Records label.
Stuart Braithwaite from the band was on hand to answer questions about how Burning came about, what Mogwai are up to at the moment and whether they plan to work on film soundtracks again following their haunting score for Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait.
How did Burning come about?
We'd been planning to do a live film and record for a while, and after enjoying working with Vincent [Moon - the director] on the short film that came with The Hawk is Howling we wanted to work with him again. As he was staying in Brooklyn at the time of us doing three shows in a row there, we thought that it would be great to do it there.
How much of a collaboration was it between yourselves and Vincent Moon and Nataniel La Souanec? How did they come to be involved in the film?
The whole film side was completely up to them. We just let them get on with it. They told us what songs they wanted in the film and we made sure we played them.
Was there any other concert films you drew on for inspiration?
Personally I love The Cure in Orange, the Bob Dylan film Don't Look Back and Kiss My Blood by Iggy Pop, but other than us playing music and someone filming it that’s probably where the similarities end.
So did you seek to make Burning representative of your career to date, or seek more to stand up in its own right?
We chose the track list of the live record Special Moves, but to be honest we just chose the songs that we had played best. We do usually play a few songs form each record though so I think because of that process it is quite representative of everything we've done to date.
For those unfamiliar with your work so far, do you think this will mark a good introduction to the music of Mogwai?
I think so. A lot of people say that they prefer our shows to our records so perhaps this could be the perfect introduction for agoraphobic potential Mogwai fans.
After Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait, could you see the band contributing music to other movies?
Definitely. We are open to offers. We've had a few opportunities in the past but our schedule has always stopped us doing them.
According to reports you’re looking to start recording your follow-up to The Hawk is Howling later this year. Have you started the song-writing process, and if so how’s it going?
Yes, we've started demoing songs. It’s too early to say how it’s going, but I'm looking forward to getting back into the studio.
Do you have any additional plans to release your own material or work outwith Mogwai?
Not really. I'm giving a song I recorded in the house to a compilation for Jack Rose who died recently, but my main priority is getting everything right for the new Mogwai album.
Finally, did Mogwai feel any pressure to try and challenge the amazing high watermark of concert films that was Michael Jackson’s This Is It?
No, though I hope we all live to see this one's release, unlike poor Michael!!
• Burning shows at the Glasgow Film Theatre at 6.30pm on Sunday February 28, preceded by a screen of music videos from acts that feature on Rock Action Records and followed by a live DJ set at a secret venue. Tickets are available on the GFF’s official site, and you can also find more news, interviews, trailers and info on our own festival microsite at stv.tv/gff.
