The first track from what could be a very tasty collaboration (album due soon), ‘Cockcrow’ had its radio debut on 19th February on the Marc Riley show.
On Mogwai’s Rock Action Records, it follows several other Moffat/Hubbert encounters, the best known probably being ‘Car Song’.
Former Arab Strap strings player, and herself an accomplished artiste, Siobhan Wilson takes female vocals on this and provides a foil to Mr Moffat, while RMH provides a scattery guitar backdrop. There are strums and biffs on the guitar as the duet starts – is it a story of an ageing couple? Or is it an escapist adulterous romance?
There is some cello while she tells him to “keep your fingers to yourself” and there are mentions of other responsibilities. There is further orchestration (though acoustic, there is a bit of faraway percussion) and there is talk of “stars and moon bright” – so a beautiful bittersweet ballad, full of the nuances of middle aged angst.
A great collab though, and BM is intrigued to see what the album, and hopefully live shows, bring.