Mogwai

Instrumental giants Mogwai, known for their mesmerizing live performances, have finally released their first live record (Special Moves) and DVD (Burning). And any fan of the Scottish post-rock band won't be disappointed with this foray into the unknown. The first thing that jumps out is that Burning doesn't replicate the track list for Special Moves. Only four songs repeat; it's a refreshing take on the combo DVD/CD concept, which too often is a copy of each other. Special Moves goes through 11 songs and is, as expected, a live recording. But Burning (featuring eight songs, spanning 45 minutes) is what makes this a special package. Directed by Vincent Moon and Nathanael Le Scouarnac (of La Blogotheque's Take-Away Show fame), the black-and-white film captures the band during their three-day stint at Brooklyn's Music Hall of Williamsburg in April 2009. Instead of multiple camera shots of Mogwai on stage, the film intersperses images of NYC between songs ― rain falling, the haze of the city at night, moving through the subway and fans waiting in line. It provides an element of not only experiencing the band, with extreme close-ups of hands moving up fret boards, keys being stroked and shimmering cymbals, but also a sense of where they are. This set is impressive and definitely worth it, even for the casual fan.