Earth Division
Encyclopedia
Earth Division is the tenth extended play
by Scottish
alternative rock
band Mogwai
. It was released on 12 September 2011 through Rock Action Records
, and a day later in the USA on Sub Pop
. The album could not be released for pre-order, as the entire stocks of the CD were destroyed when the distribution centre for PIAS Entertainment Group
was destroyed by fire during the 2011 London riots. The four tracks were recorded during the same sessions as those that produced the band's 2011 album Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will
.
, who gave the EP a score of 6.4/10, this release is one of Mogwai's quieter efforts, describing it as "cold and studied" and suggesting that the band are almost in "soundtrack mode". Writing for thefourohfive.com, Heather Steele agreed, saying that "Earth Division sees them completely lose their trademark urgency and instead take a more uniform sense of silence". Steele however was more positive, giving the EP a score of 8/10 and writing that it is the "most splendid of snapshots to demonstrate just how wide-ranging their music is and just what they are still capable of". Drowned in Sound
writer Michael Brown concluded that the four songs are "totally different, yet just as essential as the album from which they were excluded", and said that if Mogwai were to make an acoustic album "it certainly wouldn’t be the worst decision they’ve ever made". Andy Gill, The Independent
's music critic, like others commented that the music seemed designed for film or TV work, and gave the EP four out of five stars.
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
by Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Mogwai
Mogwai
The word mogwai is the transliteration of the Cantonese word 魔怪 meaning "monster", "evil spirit", "devil" or "demon".-Mogwai/Mogui in Chinese culture:...
. It was released on 12 September 2011 through Rock Action Records
Rock Action Records
Rock Action Records is a Glasgow-based record label, founded and maintained by Scottish post-rock band Mogwai. The label has showcased such diverse talents as Part Chimp, Errors, Trout, The James Orr Complex and Kling Klang, has licensed music for UK release from Torche, Envy, Afrirampo and...
, and a day later in the USA on Sub Pop
Sub Pop
Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman in Seattle, Washington. Sub Pop achieved fame in the late 1980s for first signing Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and many other bands from the Seattle music scene...
. The album could not be released for pre-order, as the entire stocks of the CD were destroyed when the distribution centre for PIAS Entertainment Group
PIAS Entertainment Group
PIAS is an international licensing, distribution, sales and marketing company for premium music, film and comedy.Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, the group also has significant operations in the UK, France, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and Ireland....
was destroyed by fire during the 2011 London riots. The four tracks were recorded during the same sessions as those that produced the band's 2011 album Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will
Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will
Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will. is the seventh studio album by Scottish post-rock band Mogwai, released on 14 February 2011 in the UK and Europe through Rock Action Records, and 15 February 2011 in the US through Sub Pop...
.
Release and reception
According to Pitchfork MediaPitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
, who gave the EP a score of 6.4/10, this release is one of Mogwai's quieter efforts, describing it as "cold and studied" and suggesting that the band are almost in "soundtrack mode". Writing for thefourohfive.com, Heather Steele agreed, saying that "Earth Division sees them completely lose their trademark urgency and instead take a more uniform sense of silence". Steele however was more positive, giving the EP a score of 8/10 and writing that it is the "most splendid of snapshots to demonstrate just how wide-ranging their music is and just what they are still capable of". Drowned in Sound
Drowned in Sound
DrownedinSound.com or DiS is a UK based music webzine financed by artist management company Silentway . The site is an editorially independent music website.-History:...
writer Michael Brown concluded that the four songs are "totally different, yet just as essential as the album from which they were excluded", and said that if Mogwai were to make an acoustic album "it certainly wouldn’t be the worst decision they’ve ever made". Andy Gill, The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
's music critic, like others commented that the music seemed designed for film or TV work, and gave the EP four out of five stars.
Track listing
Performers
- Stuart BraithwaiteStuart BraithwaiteStuart Leslie Braithwaite is a Scottish guitarist, bassist, drummer, singer and songwriter. He is best known as the guitarist of post rock band Mogwai, with whom he has recorded seven studio albums.-Early life :...
– guitar, vocals - Dominic AitchisonDominic AitchisonDominic Aitchison is a Scottish bassist. He is best known as the bassist and founding member of post-rock band Mogwai. Aside from Mogwai, he also plays bass guitar in Crippled Black Phoenix and Stage Blood....
– bass - Martin BullochMartin BullochMartin Bulloch is a Scottish musician, best known for being a member of Mogwai.-Early life:Bulloch was born in Bellshill, South Lanarkshire. He was once a cook at a Chinese Restaurant in Glasgow.-Mogwai:...
– drums - John CummingsJohn Cummings (musician)John Cummings is a Scottish musician and record producer, best known for being a member of Glaswegian band Mogwai, mostly playing guitar, as well as programming, keyboards and vocals.-Mogwai:...
- piano, guitar - Barry BurnsBarry BurnsBarry Burns is a Scottish musician best known for his work with post-rock band Mogwai.-Early life:Burns went to Cardinal Newman High School in Bellshill before enrolling with the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, taking up a Bachelor of Education degree in teaching music. He did...
– keyboards - Luke SutherlandLuke SutherlandLuke Sutherland is an English-born Scottish novelist and musician.-Biography:Sutherland was brought up in Orkney and Blairgowrie, Perth and Kinross by his adoptive Scottish parents, who moved to Scotland from Lincolnshire in 1976. He was educated at Glasgow University, where he read English and...
- violin, strings