The Hawk Is Howling
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox album
| name = The Hawk Is Howling
| type = studio
| artist = Mogwai
| cover = Thehawkishowling.jpg
| alt =
| released = 22 September 2008
| recorded = Chem19 Studios (Hamilton, Scotland)
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Post-rock, instrumental rock
| length = 63:29
| label = {{hlist|Wall of Sound|Play It Again Sam|Matador}}
| producer = Andy Miller
| prev_title = Mr Beast
| prev_year = 2006
| next_title = Special Moves
| next_year = 2010
| misc = {{Singles
| name = The Hawk Is Howling
| type = studio
| single1 = Batcat
| single1date = 8 September 2008 (EP)
}}
}}
{{Music ratings
| MC = 76/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/the-hawk-is-howling/mogwai|title=The Hawk Is Howling by Mogwai|website=Metacritic|accessdate=3 October 2016}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{AllMusic|class=album|id=the-hawk-is-howling-mw0000791757|first=Heather|last=Phares|accessdate=16 July 2019}}
| rev2 = The Guardian
| rev2Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news |title=Electronic review: Mogwai, The Hawk is Howling |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/sep/19/electronicmusic |work=The Guardian |first=Betty |last=Clark |date=18 September 2008 |accessdate=20 September 2019}}
| rev3 = NME
| rev3Score = 9/10NME, September 2008, page 23
| rev4 = Observer Music Monthly
| rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |first=Charlie |last=Gilmour|title=Rock review: Mogwai, The Hawk is Howling |website=TheGuardian.com|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/sep/14/popandrock15 |date=14 September 2008 |accessdate=25 December 2011}}
| rev5 = Pitchfork
| rev6 = PopMatters
| rev6Score = {{Rating|7|10}}{{cite web |first=Chris |last=Baynes |title=Mogwai: The Hawk Is Howling |url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/63566/mogwai-the-hawk-is-howling/ |work=PopMatters |date=24 September 2008 |accessdate=25 December 2011}}
| rev7 = Q
| rev7Score = {{Rating|3|5}}Q, October 2008, issue 87, page 149
| rev8 = The Skinny
| rev8Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |first=Darren |last=Carle |title=Mogwai - The Hawk Is Howling |url=http://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/mogwai-the-hawk-is-howling|work=The Skinny|date=4 September 2008 |accessdate=25 December 2011}}
| rev9 = Slant
| rev10 = URB
| rev10Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}[http://www.urb.com/reviews/cd/feature.php?ReviewId=762 URB.COM] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922072630/http://www.urb.com/reviews/cd/feature.php?ReviewId=762 |date=22 September 2008 }}
}}
The Hawk Is Howling is the sixth studio album by the Scottish post-rock band Mogwai, released on 22 September 2008, by Wall of Sound, Play It Again Sam and Matador in the UK, Europe, and the US, respectively.{{cite web |url=http://www.mogwai.co.uk/News/News_2008/Nearly_Done!/ |title=Nearly Done! |accessdate=4 May 2008 |author=Burns, Barry |author-link=Barry Burns |publisher= mogwai.co.uk}} It was released in Australia by Spunk Records on 27 September 2008.
It is their first album of exclusively instrumental songs, since their earlier albums have all had vocals (singing or spoken word) on some tracks.
The album peaked at number 35 in the UK Album Charts{{Citation needed|date=April 2011}} and 97 on the Billboard 200.{{Citation needed|date=April 2011}}
Writing and recording
The album was recorded and produced by Andy Miller at Chem19 Studios in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland and mixed by Gareth Jones at Castle of Doom Studios in Glasgow, Scotland, between September 2007 and March 2008.{{cite web |url=http://www.mogwai.co.uk/News/News_2008/Life_is_good/ |title=Life is good |accessdate=4 May 2008 |publisher= mogwai.co.uk}}
- {{cite web |url=http://www.mogwai.co.uk/News/News_2008/Recording_Update/ |title=Recording Update |accessdate=4 May 2008 |author=Braithwaite, Stuart |author-link=Stuart Braithwaite |publisher=mogwai.co.uk}} The album was the first time in ten years that the band had 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 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".{{cite web |url=http://brightlight.youngteam.co.uk/eng/gig260408.php |title=Mogwai @ Tramway, Glasgow, UK - 26 April 2008 |accessdate=4 May 2008 |author=Strong, Rob |publisher= brightlight.youngteam.co.uk}}
In 2012 it was awarded a gold certification from the Independent Music Companies Association,{{cite web |url=http://www.impalamusic.org/node/163 |title=13/12/12: More Independent Artists Take European Gold, Silver and Platinum Awards Than Ever Before {{!}} Impala |website=www.impalamusic.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140409005617/http://impalamusic.org/node/163 |archive-date=2014-04-09}} which indicated sales of at least 75,000 copies throughout Europe.
Track listing
All tracks composed by Mogwai.
{{Track listing
|title1 = I'm Jim Morrison, I'm Dead
|length1 = 6:46
|title2 = Batcat
|length2 = 5:23
|title3 = Danphe and the Brain
|length3 = 5:18
|title4 = Local Authority
|length4 = 4:15
|title5 = The Sun Smells Too Loud
|length5 = 6:58
|title6 = Kings Meadow
|length6 = 4:42
|title7 = I Love You, I'm Going to Blow Up Your School
|length7 = 7:33
|title8 = Scotland's Shame
|length8 = 8:00
|title9 = Thank You Space Expert
|length9 = 7:55
|title10 = The Precipice
|length10 = 6:42
|total_length = 63:29
}}
{{Track listing
|headline = Japanese edition bonus tracks
|title11 = Dracula Family
|length11 = 6:02
|title12 = Stupid Prick Gets Chased by the Police and Loses His Slut Girlfriend
|length12 = 5:07
|title13 = Devil Rides
|length13 = 4:00
|total_length = 78:38
}}
The limited edition version contains the documentary 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.
Personnel
;Mogwai
- Dominic Aitchison – bass guitar
- Stuart Braithwaite – guitar
- Martin Bulloch – drums
- Barry Burns – guitar, keyboard
- John Cummings – guitar
;Additional personnel
- James Aparicio – mixing assistance
- Nadia Bradley – photography and design
- Tony Doogan – recording of "The Sun Smells Too Loud"
- Gareth Jones – mixing
- Andy Miller – producer
- Andi Whitelock – recording of bowed mandolin on "Scotland's Shame"
References
{{reflist}}
{{Mogwai}}
{{Authority control}}
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Category:Matador Records albums
Category:PIAS Recordings albums