NEW PATHS TO HELICON, PT. 1

"'New Paths to Helicon, Pt. 1'" (almost always referred to as "'Helicon 1'") is a song by Scottish band Mogwai. It was first released as a double A-side with "New Paths to Helicon, Pt. 2" on 7" limited to 3000 copies.^[1] It was later included on the 1997 compilation album, ''Ten Rapid (Collected Recordings 1996-1997)''. The single reached #2 in English radio presenter John Peel's Festive Fifty Chart in 1997.^[2]

Contents

Overview

Musical composition

Media usage

Personnel

Notes

External links

Overview

"Helicon 1" is a strong fan favourite, and is often a regular part of Mogwai set lists. A live version of the song (recorded by Steve Lamacq from a BBC Radio Session at Maida Vale in March 1999) can be found on Mogwai's 2005 live compilation album, '', as well as UK music magazine ''Select's 2000 compilation CD, ''The Deep End''. Another live version of "Helicon 1" (recorded at Rothesay Pavilion, Isle of Bute on 14 April 2001) can be found as B-sides on the Australian, New Zealand and Japanese releases of the "My Father My King" single, as well as the 2001 ''UK/European Tour EP''. When the song is played live, Stuart Braithwaite and Dominic Aitchison switch instruments, Aitchison playing guitar, and Braithwaite on bass, usually sitting down. Braithwaite has commented on this:

Musical composition

The song begins with almost inaudible guitar, heavily delayed and reverberated, playing a descending three note melody. At (0:25), a bass riff (based around the chords of D major and B minor) enters. At (1:00), slightly distorted, heavily delayed and reverberated guitars begin playing along to the bass riff, swooping in and out. At (1:34), a relaxed, slow drum beat begins. At (2:50), all of the instruments pause for a brief second, then explode into loud guitar-driven noise, backed by a steady, heavy drumbeat (to which every snare drum beat is accompanied by a tambourine clash). At (4:28), the distorted guitars and drums end, leaving the soft bass riff to close the song, aided by the guitar melody heard at the start of song, all of which gradually fade out.

Media usage

★ In 2002, the song was featured in "Dragonchasers", an episode of the American crime drama ''The Shield''.

★ In 2006, the song was featured in "Wind Sprints", an episode of the American serial drama ''Friday Night Lights''.

Personnel

★ Stuart Braithwaite – guitar

★ Dominic Aitchison – bass guitar

★ John Cummings – guitar

★ Martin Bulloch – drums

★ Andy Miller – producer, mixer

Notes

1. Mogwai Singles on brightlight.youngteam.co.uk
2. Festive Fifty: 1997 Chart on bbc.co.uk

External links

★ "Helicon 1" on Last.fm

★ "Helicon 1" Guitar Tablature