Attitude is instrumental to Mogwai's appeal.(NWTicket)

Byline: Paul Pearson; Special to The Seattle Times

Mogwai, the Scottish band slated for Showbox at the Market on Saturday, plays almost exclusively instrumental music, yet a unique personality shines through its wildly dynamic, dramatic songs.

"There's definitely a certain attitude in our music," said Mogwai guitarist Stuart Braithwaite in a phone interview this week from the band's tour bus. "It's identifiable, but it's hard to put into words."

Mogwai is the first vocal-less rock group to maintain a devoted following since the mid-70s, when punk established the all-instrumental format as less of a rarity. The band's command of volume and dynamics results in music that's both solace and gut-check, dependent on gently-built tension and thrashing guitar release. It's freakishly emotional, a formula Mogwai patented on its 1997 debut, "Mogwai Young Team," reissued in deluxe form in 2008. The album's stature as a secret classic isn't completely lost on the otherwise modest Braithwaite.

"Without wanting to sound too conceited, I don't think there had been many records like that before," he said. "I don't think that we're at all unique, but I think that was one of the first records people heard with that drawn-out guitar thing, the wide dynamics."

Mogwai's remained a pertinent band ever since, dodging the odds that groups with such a tight focus don't last very long. Its seventh studio album, "Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will," was released in February, and is the group's first for Seattle's Sub Pop.

"Some of the records that came out on Sub Pop pretty much defined us as people," Braithwaite explained. "Records like 'The White Birch' by Codeine and 'Superfuzz Bigmuff' by Mudhoney. When we were thinking about who to put the next Mogwai record out with, we just got into a discussion with them, and it turned out well."

"Hardcore" could be described as a marginally brighter work than the rest of Mogwai's catalog. Though the thunderous elements remain, the melodies give off a sense of lightness and compassion.

That emotionalism may help explain Mogwai's connection to its fans.

"I've had a lot of nice conversations with people who've said our music has helped them through difficulties in their lives," said Braithwaite "It's pretty special, especially when I think it's just five guys making a lot of noise."

Paul Pearson: paulshrug@hotmail.com

Mogwai

8 p.m. Saturday, Showbox at the Market, 1426 First Ave., Seattle; $22.50 (800-745-3000 or www.showboxonline.com).

On the Internet

Listen to Mogwai: www.subpop.com, search mogwai

CAPTION(S):

Steve Gullick: The Scottish band Mogwai plays the Showbox Saturday. (0416806310)

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