Scots band celebrate 25 years together with first No. 1
Scottish post-rockers Mogwai have scored their first UK No.1 album – 25 years after releasing their debut single.
Their tenth record, As The Love Continues, held off competition from grime pioneer Ghetts, whose third album, Conflict Of Interest, lagged behind by some 2,900 chart sales, according to the Official Charts Company.
The Glasgow-based band’s previous chart peak came in 2017 when they reached number six with Every Country’s Sun.
Prior to that only one of their records had cracked the top 10.
Mogwai have taken part in the award-winning Scotsman Sessions series, performing the track Supposedly, We Were Nightmares from their new album.
The four-piece – famed for their moody, complex rock instrumentals – also became this week’s best-seller on vinyl and the top seller in UK independent record shops.
They said: “We’re unbelievably happy to have the number one album in the UK. We want to thank everyone at Rock Action Records – both of you – and mostly to thank everyone who has bought, downloaded and streamed the album, and supported us over the last week, and the last 25 years.
“It’s something we’re amazed by. We’re taken aback by everyone’s support, kindness and generosity.
“It is 25 years this week since the release of our first single Tuner/lower, the first release on our own label Rock Action Records. We didn’t start the band or the label to get into the charts.
“None of us ever envisaged either the band or the label being in a position where having a number one record would be a possibility,” the band members added.
The album shot to the top of the charts following a social media campaign backed by fellow musical legends and celebrities, including the likes of Elijah Wood, Robert Smith (The Cure), Franz Ferdinand, Irvine Welsh, Limmy, Arab Strap, Snow Patrol and Twilight Sad.
Elsewhere in this week’s charts, Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia returned to number three following the release of its extended Moonlight Edition, including new single We’re Good.