Mugstar, the space warriors from Liverpool, have got together with filmmaker Liam Yates to make a film ‘Ad Marginem’. They have not only made the soundtrack but also been involved with the writing, production and even acting in it. The soundtrack was written outside the traditional framework whereby a filmscore is added to a completed film, in the case of ‘Ad Marginem’ the whole project was evolved around music itself.
First things first though about the music here; if you are used to how Mugstar sound, especially live, you are in for a surprise. Their usual riff laden surf/space/psych rock pummelling is set aside for a more foreboding, moody, tense affair that feels at times more claustrophobic than expansive. They are drawing on the early post Barrett Floyd year as well as other post rock stalwarts like Godspeed You Black Emperor and Slint.
‘Rite I’ starts off with just building up the layers, drones fading in and menacing beats striking a tempo like a Roman Slave Galley drummer spurring on his charges as they head in to battle. ‘Memorial’ and ‘Memorial (Recapitualtion)’ are very Floydesque; cymbals ripples abound, atonal bass riffs punctuated by guitar sprangs. Dark in the right places, sombre, spooky and in a way tinged with a 60s style tension filled thriller soundtrack.
‘Red – Island’ starts off like some 70s horror film with the drones, disturbing strings electronic oscillations suggesting a trip through the consciousness of night before breaking through to their usual majestic space rock romp with intertwining guitars. ‘Death Hunter’ is aptly named with its tribal beats and arpeggiated guitars stalking through the forest seeking its prey, tension ripped fuzz and the loud quiet loud dynamics keeping you focused and hyperalert.
‘Inquisition’ starts with haunting voices, memories, hallucinations, dreams against a wind and the heart beat. Questioning your mind and leaving you at unease. This leads nicely in to the final track ‘Rite II’ with a more gentler feel with it Spanish influenced guitar line, a lightness to the dark horror of the mind that has gone before. Still a ripple of nerves on the periphery and then the chase is on and we are off with the tempo rising into a motorik beat, soaring guitars and repetitive distorted surf guitar rhythms taking us towards the light and what feels like relief and salvation.
While I haven’t seen the film, the album makes me want to see it, and see the interplay between the screen and the music here and see the synergy of how the approach of writing it all sticks together. But that aside, this album stands out on its own. It is haunting, poetic, trippy and thrilling all at once. It’s been on constant rotation and it’s great to see the magnificent Mugstar display such variety.
Released June 11 2012 on Agitated Records.
