Mogwai and Roky Erickson

I’m listening to Mogwai this morning. Perfect instrumental music for this, as of yet, tranquil Sunday morning. Another one of those bands I had heard about but not heard. I got on to the Mogwai chase because, this thing in Pitchfork, about an upcoming Mogwai E.P. featuring Roky Erickson, caught my eye.

The Batcat EP begins with a pair of non-album cuts: there’s “Batcat”, of course, plus the unfortunately titled “Stupid Prick Gets Chased by the Police and Loses His Slut Girlfriend”. But it’s the closer, “Devil Rides”, that really fascinates, as it sports vocal contributions from freakout legend/13th Floor Elevators frontman Roky Erickson. It’s due on CD, 12″ and digitally September 8 in the UK and on 12″ and digitally (not on CD) September 9 in the U.S.

“Stupid Prick Gets Chased by the Police and Loses His Slut Girlfriend” is a title so good that I am pre-disposed to like it no matter what it is. The band also has a full length album, “The Hawk Is Howling”, due in September.

Roky Erickson was the front man for the 13th Floor Elevators…

photo-Bob Simmons

…who, as legend has it, were the first band to call their music psychedelic rock. The Elevators’ influence cuts a wide swath. Roky has had a turbulent life and has rejuvenated himself. There is a documentary film, “You’re Gonna Miss Me” named after the 13th Floor Elevators hit that he wrote. You can find out more about his remarkable story, the film and see many little treasures at his website rokyerickson.net.

You can stream some Mogwai at their MySpace.