It has been a long time (possibly since My Bloody Valentine's Loveless) since I have heard a record that made me feel like I was listening to Orchestra-caliber Indie Rock. Mogwai have arranged an album of atmospheric, carefully crafted orchestral rock music that takes the listener on a textured journey through sound.
Ten Rapid begins with "Summer" which swirls beautiful melodies and intense guitar riffs and changes its intensity as unpredicatably as a summer breeze, and features "New Paths To Helicon" which seems to be played forward (Pt.2) and backward (Pt.1) on this album. Other tracks - "Angels vs Aliens" and "I Am Not Batman" also combine the most beautiful and the most harsh sounds imaginable. Mogwai are sparing with their lyrics... when they appear, they are but a whisper ("Tuner").
Having only 9 songs, Ten Rapid is a short, intense musical journey that is not easily explained. It is experienced rather than just listened to - sit in a dark room with a walkman, pop this tape on, and deal head-on with the incredible sensory stimuli of Mogwai.
