Photo: Press
"We've just never been a cool band," laughs Mogwai multi-instrumentalist Barry Burns, considering the survival of the world's leading post-rock architects as their 20th anniversary approaches.
"It's quite weird. Every time someone mentions it, it takes your breath away. It's a long time. It's actually just a long time to be friends with anyone as well, we're quite lucky that we're good at being in a band and we know what's expected of us. It's been a lot of fun."
It's January, so naturally it's that time of year when countless lists are doing the rounds. Lists and lists of new bands that are going to be huge in the year ahead. Some are worthy, but most will sink without a trace. Yet here's Mogwai, who have been going strong for nearly two decades without a whiff of hype. Have they ever found themselves on a list?
"'Most often in the bargain bin in Our Price probably!" Barry chuckles. "I don't think so. In the beginning there was a bit of a thing with the first record but luckily after that, we've just never been a cool band. Often, that's the death knell - to be told you're cool and then do something uncool. If you just stay off the radar most of the time, then I think you're better off."
He continues: "You never know. "I always thought Errors and Twilight Sad were going to be pretty big too, but I don't know - people who buy music are just fickle bastards!"
But a band like Mogwai are naturally going to be on the radar of most music lovers most of the time - largely due to their restless work ethic. The soundtrack to Les Revenents (that's The Returned to you English speaking viewers out there) was one of the best bodies of work and finest albums released in 2013. Somehow, they've also found the time to write record their brilliant eighth album, Rave Tapes - which is released this week.
Rave Tapes is yet another shining gem in an already astounding back catalogue. Why? Essentially, it's the band doing what they do best, but with more conviction, consistency and ambition than ever before - and the reviews have been fittingly glowing. "People have been pretty positive," admits Barry. "Some of the reviews of course, are really over the top and ridiculous and some of them are really bad as well. It happens every album, I guess. You don't worry about it too much."
Indeed, the music of Mogwai is that enigmatic kind that is always going to inspire an extreme reaction. Fellow post-rock giants Sigur Ros have also spoken out about growing tiresome of reading words like 'ethereal' and being made to sound like they're from another planet.
"That's hilarious!" shouts Barry. "I don't know. It's probably quite difficult to write about music, especially if there's no content lyrically. You either like it or you don't. It's as simple as that."
But now, back to Earth. Rave Tapes has a much darker sound than predecessor Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will. The album took shape once again under the watchful eye of producer and former Delgados drummer, Paul Savage - so how did the more downbeat mood come about?
"I think we probably just felt like we hadn't really finished working with Paul," says Barry. "Hardcore was quite an upbeat album for us anyway, and I suppose we wanted to explore something a little bit different with him. It wasn't planned out, but I suppose there was some sort of unconscious desire to do something a little bit darker."
Watch the video for 'The Lord Is Out Of Control' by Mogwai below
But make no mistake, Rave Tapes is quintessentially Mogwai - once again finding that sweet spot between enigma and really giving fans something to cling to. As Barry says, it's a tricky thing to describe, but whatever it is has kept them going for 20 years now.
"Obviously we must be doing something right but I don't really know what it is," shrugs Barry. "I think it's helped that we don't have a singer, because they tend to run out of things to sing about. You can take that to the extreme and look at hip-hop - they start out singing about the fact that they can't afford a lot of stuff, then they're just talking about their favourite ice cream in the club. It gets a bit stale, and we're lucky that we don't have that to take bones out of."
Bones still very much intact, Mogwai's sustained originality and credibility is what made them the poster boys for ATP festival - and the perfect band to close the last ever night of the UK leg of the event.
"It was pretty emotional," remembers Barry. "They played 'All Tomorrow's Parties' by Nico and everyone was in tears on the stage, saying goodbye. It was really more of a celebration than a swansong, though. I think they'll come back and do something in ten years, like Pixies."
Praising their kindred spirits at ATP, Barry takes a moment to praise them for doing something different with no real commercial interest - something that Mogwai can truly relate to: "There's no corporate sponsorship, which is what you get with bigger brands where everything gets sort of homogenized. If you look at Glastonbury now, it's not what it used to be - it's just another family festival. ATP also spurned a few nice festivals like End Of The Road and stuff like that where they are picking decent bands and not just going for the bigger acts. It's very difficult to keep that kind of thing going financially when it's sort of niche."
Listen to 'Remurdered' by Mogwai below
One of the world's most popular niches themselves, Mogwai show no signs of slowing down in the years to come. The secret to their longeivity? Simple: restless curiosity.
"I remember the days when we used to say no to everything, but now we tend to say yes a lot more. I don't know why, but we'll try anything. I think the Returned soundtrack stuff opened up a few things. We've worked on a few art projects and we've got another one this year with a guy called Anthony Crook. He wants us to do the sound for a project where a guy is going to build a boat and sail down the Hudson River to Manhattan.
"Maybe we won't go as far as opera and ballet - we'll leave that to Damon Albarn."
With tutus and choreography out of the questions, can we expect any fanfare when the landmark 20th year of Mogwai rolls around?
"Nah," laughs Barry. "There will be one of those Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer-style mini-explosions and that'll be it."
Rave Tapes by Mogwai is out now. Their UK tour dates are as follows:
JANUARY
22 Newcastle upon Tyne - Mill Volvo Tyne Theatre
24 London - Royal Festival Hall
25 London - Royal Festival Hall
27 Manchester - Bridgewater Hall
28 Glasgow - Royal Concert Hall
For more information visit Gigwise gig tickets.
Below: Mogwai, James Vincent McMorrow and the albums of 2014 that we're already in love with
