2012.06.09 Mogwai - Rano Pano b/w Hasenheide

Color: Black

Released: 2011, January 18

Label: Sub Pop

It’s happening again. I’m going through one of my obsessive Mogwai phases. It started with posting another record of theirs earlier this week and then listening to quite a bit of the band in prep for seeing them live in Atlanta this weekend.  And quite the performance it was. The last time I saw Mogwai something was off… it could have been what seemed like an odd choice of venue for the band or just an off night… but last night Mogwai sounded louder and better than ever. So here’s their inaugural single for their new American home, Sub Pop. As such, the artwork is given the treatment of the old Sub Pop Singles Club. It’s simple but iconic and works well with the different weights of Futura gracing the sleeve. I think I’ve heralded the design of the wax labels on a previous entry featuring a release from Sub Pop with identical labels. In addition to the lead single from the band’s recent full length, we get “Hasenheide” which finds the band reaching back and channeling some of their “math rock” heroes a bit. Dare I say this tune should have made the album.