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Government Commissions: BBC Sessions 1996-2004
 
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Government Commissions: BBC Sessions 1996-2004 [Live]

~ Mogwai
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
Price: £4.78 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Product details

  • Audio CD (21 Feb 2005)
  • Number of Discs: 1
  • Format: Live
  • Label: Pias
  • ASIN: B0006IGIXE
  • Other Editions: MP3 Download
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 8,013 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

    Popular in these categories:

    #10 in  Music > Indie > Post-rock
    #77 in  Music > Indie > British

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Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s

Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or view the MP3 Album.

Samples
Song Title Time Price
Listen  1. Hunted by a Freak 4:09£0.79
Listen  2. R U Still in 2 It 6:19£0.79
Listen  3. New Paths to Helicon Pt II 2:53£0.79
Listen  4. Kappa 4:26£0.79
Listen  5. Cody 6:08£0.79
Listen  6. Like Herod18:30£0.79
Listen  7. Secret Pint 4:45£0.79
Listen  8. Superheroes of BMX 7:31£0.79
Listen  9. New Paths To Helicon 8:13£0.79
Listen10. Stop Coming to My House 4:42£0.79

Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

A collection of tracks culled from BBC radio sessions recorded throughout Mogwai's career, Government Commissions is as close as these foundation-shaking Scottish instrumental rockers have got so far to a Greatest Hits collection. Rather than running riot through their back catalogue, however, it's clear that this retrospective has been sequenced to write a specific history. Opening with the avuncular voice of John Peel, who introduces the lilting tones of "Hunted By A Freak" performed live at London's Maida Vale, it's quickly clear we're in mellow Mogwai territory: just as Barry Burns' effects-laden vocals drift, phantom-like, within a shimmering curtain of effects, these tracks – some recorded seven years apart--segue so neatly into one another you can barely spot the join, a testament to the neat homogeneity of the BBC engineers' production job. There is, of course, room for one exception, and that's set aside for an 18-minute take on "Like Herod" that towers in the middle of the album like a dormant volcano, quietly belching smoke between periodic eruptions of towering, mangled feedback. --Louis Pattison


CD Description

'Government Commissions' is a collection of sessions recorded for the BBC by avant-garde post-rockers Mogwai. Spanning a seven year period between 1996 and 2003, the album contains session versions of tracks from each of the band's album releases. Includes 'Kappa' and 'Hunted By A Freak'.

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Customer Reviews

5 Reviews
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 (3)
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Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Genius songs make happy people., 1 Sep 2006
By L. Hall "Rolex" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Government Commissions is an essential Mogwai purchase. The CD comprises all their BBC recordings except for the Peel session version of My Father, My King, which is absent owing to time constraints. It is a really nice touch on the part of the band to leave Sir John Peel's introduction at the start of Hunted By a Freak, and it complements a beautiful rendition of the track itself. Next up is an instrumental version of R U Still in 2 it, which doesn't sound quite right without Aidan on the first listen but really grows on you. Helicon II sounds as fantastic as the single version, whilst Kappa and Cody are light years ahead of the studio versions. Free of Dave Fridmann's over-compressed production and the slightly irritating NFL commentary on the CODY lp, Kappa is the slow building epic it should be whereas Cody is much more delicate with a stronger vocal performance. Secret Pint is probably the weakest track here - it's a decent enough performance but not quite as memorable as the other tunes on show (then again this is a subjective view as Rock Action is my least favourite `gwai lp). The final 3 tracks (Superheroes of BMX, Helicon I & Stop Coming to my House) again continue the trend of rivalling the studio versions, with Helicon I being especially spectacular when Stuart & John stamp on various pedals.

However, everything on this disc is in the shadow of track 6 - the 18:32 overture that is Like Herod. Blimey. Even if you know the Young Team version off by heart, NOTHING prepares you for this. Taking the quiet/loud dynamic to its extremes, this version fades away to near silence before exploding into an absolute meltdown, then goes serene again before another armageddon impression. Play this to the uninitiated and ask them whether the last 10 minutes is; a) a recording of the world collapsing in on itself in a fiery apocalypse, or b) 4 blokes from Glasgow in a BBC studio and they'll be hard pressed to know which is more likely. It has to be heard to be believed.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Superheroes of BBC, 1 Mar 2005
Although it doesn't really seem like it, Mogwai have been around a few years now, and instead of releasing a stock-taking 'best of' have chosen to assemble this compilation of BBC session recordings.
The album is culled from a variety of different sessions recorded between 1996 and 2003, although it flows somewhat like a live album, albeit minus any on-stage banter or any real audience noise. The band's performances are tight and impressive, and the live takes on 'Hunted By A Freak' and 'Cody' are pretty faithful to the original album versions. 'Kappa' seems to lack some of the power of the original, but the affecting hum of 'Superheroes of BMX' and the full-on 18 minute version of 'Like Herod' make up for it. The highlights, however, are the two parts of 'New Paths to Helicon' which buzz and stutter joyfully all over the place.
This album isn't quite as good as seeing Mogwai live in the flesh (which I strongly recommend), but fans of the band are sure to be happy with this set and it may serve as a good introduction for any newcomers.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars My Favourite Mogwai Release, 29 Nov 2008
By Mrs. J. Pinheiro "Antonio Pinheiro" (Cardiff) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Wow..
While Mogwai may have been sticking to a similar formular for years, when it works, it's earth-shattering. A collection of live Mogwai songs was inevitable since that is their true power. The un-produced gems on this album prove Mogwai really are the kings of (cringe) post-rock.
Like Herod blasts through the speakers for 18 minutes with it's heavy feedback and masterful dynamics. I never liked the Mogwai Young Team Production, but here it sounds brilliant. The real highlight of the collection though has got to be New Paths to Helicon (Part 1). 4 Minutes of sweeping eerie beauty slowly climbing into an atomic bomb, which drops around the 4 minute mark. As soon as it hits, grown men will find it hard to not release a tear. It's beautiful. Perfection..
No filler here unlike CODY and dare I say it, Mogwai Young Team. If you're new to Mogwai, pick up Ten Rapid as it's an easy purchase, buy any other studio album and then get this. You don't want this to be your first Mogwai purchase, you might get disappointed later on.

5/5
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars It sums up a great band!!!!
They are dark, they are bright, they're angry but polight. They are Mogway !!! This cd is great, or even better like a greatest hits (although not all the best tracks by Mogway)... Read more
Published on 13 Jun 2007 by E. Vambe

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Introduction To Mogwai
Having seen Mogwai live last year, I was hoping to find on this release some of the nuances and altered song structures I'd heard in person. Read more
Published on 2 Mar 2005 by Gs Greaves

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