Mogwai reached a quarter century in the middle of a pandemic and had to record with regular producer/collaborator Dave Fridmann strictly by remote. But As The Love Continues surprised the heck out of everyone by debuting at number 1 in the UK. The band’s trademark blend of cryptic humor (“Ritchie Sacramento” derives from an overheard mispronouncing of Ryuichi Sakamoto) and surprisingly open heart, all conveyed mostly through entrancing, driving rock instrumentals, remains powerful.