8/10

Recorded as the soundtrack to the BBC documentary 'Atomic - Living In Dread And Promise', Mogwai have taken their unique musical style to forge a union between themselves and the subject matter. The programme itself tries to create a balance between the pros and cons of living in a nuclear world, where the life and death of everything on this planet hinges on the development of nuclear power. It is this conflict that Mogwai have managed to address brilliantly.

With its pretence, you can already imagine what kind of album this would be. Soundtracks have a habit of losing themselves in translation as they usually are just one half of an audio-visual experience. But 'Atomic' has this ability for you to conjure up your own visuals when listening to it. Its playful yet atmospheric condition gives it an extremely broad sense of itself and makes for an incredibly engaging listen.

While fans of the band will no doubt enjoy just as much, it does feel like a step to the side with regards to their traditional sound. They've seen this as an opportunity to try out new ideas and they land constantly throughout.