Wow Kafe - Over Kansas

by Benjamin Howarth

published: 17 / 12 / 2001

Label: Play
Format: 7"

The Wow Café join Odeon Beat Club in Play Record’s one label campaign against sensible band names! This is post rock from Glasgow and I’d be lying if I said that it didn’t sound a lot like Mogwai. Per

Review

The Wow Café join Odeon Beat Club in Play Record’s one label campaign against sensible band names! This is post rock from Glasgow and I’d be lying if I said that it didn’t sound a lot like Mogwai. Personally, Mogwai aren’t my favourite band. I like certain songs but can’t really make it through a whole album. I think they’re a bit over-rated in all honesty, but I still really liked The Wow Café so maybe a “proper” Mogwai fan won’t see it that way at all. Over Kansas' is a 3 track EP on 7” vinyl, and the sleeve has penguins on it.The first song is called 'Who Shall Apologise To The Emperor', which sounds suitably ridiculous, like a play on a Godspeed… album title. On the other hand the music is serious and melancholic. Thoroughly enjoyable, but perhaps not that original. All three songs show off a nice amount of variation and a command of both texture and dynamics. The loud/quiet contrasts are not as clichéd as on Mogwai records though. This is their debut single (and indeed only Play’s fifth release in total), so whilst there is room for a little fine-tuning, this is dead promising. The drummer in particular is absolutely immense. Any record with this guy on it is sure to be pretty enjoyable. It’s not flamboyant or showy but solid and pounding. The post rock scene is getting a little full now, but The Wow Kafé are a worthwhile addition. I liked it more than most Mogwai songs anyway.