Pitchfork

Mogwai's Stuart Braithwaite has revealed to Pitchfork that the band are presently at work on their fourth full-length album in a studio in Cava, Glasgow. The band's official follow-up to 2001's Rock Action, which was produced by Dave Fridmann and included guest appearances from the Super Furry Animals' Gruff Rhys and ex-Slint/Tortoise/current Zwan guitarist Dave Pajo, is presently slated for release sometime in June.

Tentatively titled Bag of Agony, the record is being produced by Tony Doogan, known for his engineering and production work on previous Mogwai records, as well as records by Belle & Sebastian, The Delgados, The Reindeer Section, Teenage Fanclub, and just about any other Scottish band you can think of (except The Beta Band). The only guest appearances on Bag of Agony thus far are from ex-Long Fin Killie and Bows frontman Luke Sutherland and cellist Caroline Barber, who have both contributed their talents to other Mogwai releases, and, according to Braithwaite, possibly "some members of new bitter record shop workers combo The Caesarian Section."

The tracklist is as-yet unconfirmed, but Braithwaite did mention "Everyday Is a Schoolday", "John Dies at 56", "Kids Will/Become Skeletons", "Hunted by a Freak", and "Jebus Sabes" as some of the songs they're presently working on. When asked what he imagined the record would sound, Braithwaite said: "It will sound good, I hope. Like musical slippers and sweet milk. We will channel our hatred."

Mogwai are also gearing up for a brief UK tour with the "electronic Kraut punk band" Kling Klang, who've just signed a deal with Mogwai's own Rock Action label, but no dates have been officially announced. It is expected that a U.S. tour will also be planned closer to the release of Bag of Agony in June.

In related news, Mogwai drummer Martin Bulloch is selling his old pacemaker for charity on eBay. According to the auction description, the pacemaker includes Martin's hospital wristband and his European pacemaker ID card, "which enables Martin to get searched every single time he goes through an airport metal-detector." In addition, the winning bidder will receive three rare-ish Mogwai releases: the Travels in Constants EP released by Temporary Residence, a Japanese version of the My Father, My King single, and a vinyl test pressing of the Rock Action LP. Proceeds go to the British Heart Foundation. Like the band sez: "Get your old coins oot!"

.: British Heart Foundation: http://www.bhf.org.uk
.: Pacemaker auction: http://cgi.ebay.com...