Superheroes of BMX

"Superheroes of BMX" is 1997 a song by the Scottish post-rock group Mogwai, from their 4 Satin EP, and later on the 2000 compilation album EP+6.

"Superheroes of BMX"
Song by Mogwai
from the EP 4 Satin
Released26 May 1997 (1997-05-26)
StudioMCM Studios, Hamilton, Scotland
GenrePost-rock
Length8:03
LabelChemikal Underground, Jetset
Composer(s)Dominic Aitchison
Stuart Braithwaite
Producer(s)Andy Miller
4 Satin EP
3 Tracks
  1. "Superheroes of BMX"
  2. "Now You're Taken"
  3. "Stereodee"
Audio sample
  • file
  • help
EP+6 track listing
10 tracks
  1. "Superheroes of BMX"
  2. "Now You're Taken"
  3. "Stereodee"
  4. "Xmas Steps"
  5. "Rollerball"
  6. "Small Children in the Background"
  7. "Stanley Kubrick"
  8. "Christmas Song"
  9. "Burn Girl Prom-Queen"
  10. "Rage:Man"
Government Commissions: BBC Sessions 1996-2003 track listing
10 tracks
  1. "Hunted by a Freak"
  2. "R U Still in 2 It"
  3. "New Paths to Helicon Pt II"
  4. "Kappa"
  5. "Cody"
  6. "Like Herod"
  7. "Secret Pint"
  8. "Superheroes of BMX"
  9. "New Paths to Helicon Pt I"
  10. "Stop Coming to My House"

Overview

"Superheroes of BMX" is an eight-minute-long instrumental which makes use of a Bontempi Organ, which is built upon throughout the song. The song features an electronic drum beat produced through a BOSS DR-550 Dr. Rhythm drum machine. A live version of the song appeared on the live compilation album, Government Commissions: BBC Sessions 1996-2003, recorded at The Golders Green Hippodrome on December 22, 1996 by John Peel. The "whooshing" noise heard in the song is made by a RoboCop figurine, which can be seen briefly in The Recording of Mr. Beast documentary. The song was originally titled "Dominic", after Dominic Aitchison, Mogwai's bassist.[1]

English indie rock band Bloc Party once went under the name "Superheroes of BMX".

Musical composition

Similar to their song "Tracy", the track begins with recorded a phone call (which can be heard throughout most of the song) between Stuart Braithwaite and friend David Jack, whilst an electronic drumbeat plays. At (0:18), they are joined by the sound of a Bontempi Organ playing an A♯ major chord, followed by a D minor chord, which is repeated all throughout the song. Layers of synth and a guitar riff play over the chords. A whooshing noise can be heard at various points. At (1:56), acoustic drums can be heard playing the drumbeat, until (2:30), when it goes back to electronic drums. At (3:53), distorted guitars begin playing along and feedbacking with the chords in the background. This guitar noise and feedback continues, fading in and out gradually for the next few minutes, until it becomes almost overbearing, at which point the song ends abruptly.

Personnel
  • Stuart Braithwaite – guitar, organ, monologue
  • Dominic Aitchison – bass guitar
  • John Cummings – guitar
  • Martin Bulloch – drums
  • David Jack – monologue
  • Andy Miller – producer, mixer

Notes
  1. Mogwai – Maida Vale, London 11 January 1997 Set list
gollark: A laser elevator keeps you on the ground floor, but blinds you so you can't tell.
gollark: Presumably which apartment in a building someone is in is available information to people configuring elevators there.
gollark: Sure it would. None are safe.
gollark: It would be boring and easy for those.
gollark: The elevator should just pick a floor at random then convince the passengers they need to go there.
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