Formed in Glasgow in 1996, Mogwai are known for being a key band in the development of the sub-genre known as post-rock. Post-rock basically means that the instruments of rock music are used (different types of guitar, and also drums, synthesisers, keyboards etc), but in an unconventional way. Mogwai have a distinctive sound: they play long, slow instrumentals with echoing guitar lines and distortion, few (if any) lyrics, and often employing a quiet/loud structure. They are clearly influenced by shoegaze bands like My Bloody Valentine, math-rock bands like Slint, alternative rock bands like The Jesus and Mary Chain and Sonic Youth, and prog-rock bands like Pink Floyd. In turn, Mogwai have been an important influence on newer bands such as Explosions In The Sky, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Sigur Rós, and The Twilight Sad. Though they are critically revered, Mogwai have never appealed to a wide commercial audience.
Mogwai have released six studio albums, as well as various remix compilations and EPs. Of their studio albums, their debut Mogwai Young Team (1997) is often considered their best, along with Happy Songs for Happy People (2003) (the name should not be taken literally). In 2006 Mogwai provided the soundtrack to a film about French footballer Zinedine Zidane.
