Bat Cat
By Mogwai
The strangely comic-book title of Mogwai's latest single belies its formidable take on not quite stoned but definitely stoner-influenced riffage. From start to finish its relentless layers of fuzz-laden guitar drones and rhythmic industry feed on the ears with the ferocity of something truly feral. Like an explosive mob of guitar-wielding assault troops with oversize Big Muffs strapped to their backs, this thunderous return to their tension building best sees Mogwai drop the diplomatic approach of dynamic nuance in favour of all-out aural hostilities. 'Batcat' is a systematic slog through nigh on six minutes of pure and unmerciful noise. No room for niceties here it seems. The sun-drenched, desert dwelling mysticism of Kyuss is warped into more of a sun-baked, desert-weary madness, bitter with post-Iraq cynicism and hardened by experience. You can almost hear the tanks rolling.
