Government Commissions: BBC Sessions 1996–2003
Government Commissions: BBC Sessions 1996–2003 is a compilation album by the post-rock group Mogwai released in 2005, consisting of sessions recorded between 1996 and 2003 for BBC Radio. Some of the tracks are different from previously released versions – for example, the recording of "R U Still in 2 It?" is entirely instrumental, whereas the studio version on Mogwai Young Team features a lead vocal from Arab Strap member Aidan Moffat. Following the death of BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel in 2004, for whose show many of the tracks were recorded, Mogwai decided to dedicate the album to him. Peel's voice announces "Ladies and Gentlemen, Mogwai!" at the beginning of "Hunted by a Freak", the album's opener.
| Government Commissions: BBC Sessions 1996–2003 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | 21 February 2005 | |||
| Recorded | Maida Vale, Hippodrome | |||
| Genre | Post-rock | |||
| Length | 67:00 | |||
| Label | PIAS, Rock Action | |||
| Mogwai chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 79/100[1] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [2] |
| Pitchfork Media | (8.0/10) [3] |
In 2012 it was awarded a double silver certification from the Independent Music Companies Association,[4] which indicated sales of at least 40,000 copies throughout Europe.
Track listing
CD
All tracks are written by Mogwai
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hunted by a Freak" | 4:09 |
| 2. | "R U Still in 2 It" | 6:18 |
| 3. | "New Paths to Helicon Pt II" | 2:51 |
| 4. | "Kappa" | 4:23 |
| 5. | "Cody" | 6:07 |
| 6. | "Like Herod" | 18:32 |
| 7. | "Secret Pint" | 4:32 |
| 8. | "Superheroes of BMX" | 7:29 |
| 9. | "New Paths to Helicon Pt I" | 8:11 |
| 10. | "Stop Coming to My House" | 4:40 |
2xLP
All tracks are written by Mogwai
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hunted by a Freak" | 4:09 |
| 2. | "R U Still in 2 It" | 6:18 |
| 3. | "New Paths to Helicon Pt II" | 2:51 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 4. | "Kappa" | 4:23 |
| 5. | "Cody" | 6:07 |
| 6. | "Superheroes of BMX" | 7:29 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 7. | "Like Herod" | 18:32 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 8. | "Secret Pint" | 4:32 |
| 9. | "New Paths to Helicon Pt I" | 8:11 |
| 10. | "Stop Coming to My House" | 4:40 |
Personnel
- Mike Engles, Mike Robinson, Miti Adhikari, and Simon Askew - Recording and Mixing
- Nick Fountain, Colin Beaumont, Nick King, Kevin Rumble, Jamie Hart - Assistant Engineer
- Mark Maxwell - Photo of John Peel
References
- "Government Commissions: BBC Sessions 1996-2003 by Mogwai". Metacritic. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
- Phares, Heather. Government Commissions: BBC Sessions 1996–2003 at AllMusic
- Pitchfork Media review Archived 2007-02-27 at the Wayback Machine
- "13/12/12: More Independent Artists Take European Gold, Silver and Platinum Awards Than Ever Before | Impala". www.impalamusic.org. Archived from the original on 9 April 2014.
External links
- Government Commissions: BBC Sessions 1996–2003 at MusicBrainz (list of releases)