"The intro reminds me of the kind of crushing loneliness modern people feel," said Iggy Pop, describing the opening of Mogwai's new track "Underground." The punk godfather was candid about how the collaboration came together: "The vocal arrangement by Matt Sweeney sounded like it was tailor-made for someone who's full of rage and isn't afraid to say it."
That line pretty much sums up the vibe of Mogwai's upcoming career retrospective, 'Happy Tears'. Set for release on January 8, the album will trace through key tracks from the Scottish band's 30-year career, while also including several rare cuts—among them a single that was previously digital-only, and a reworked version of "New Paths To Helicon 1" retitled "Brand New Paths to Helicon 1."
"Underground" is the only brand-new track on the album, and marks Mogwai's first official collaboration with Iggy Pop. For frontman and guitarist Stuart Braithwaite, the collaboration is in some ways a response to years of fandom. In his memoir *Spaceships Over Glasgow: Mogwai, Mayhem And Misspent Youth*, he wrote that hearing The Stooges for the first time was "a life-changing moment," calling their self-titled album "practically my Bible, dirty and stupid and primal." He also mentioned watching a VHS tape of Iggy Pop's live performances on repeat, saying, "it was his voice and the songs that really got me."
'Happy Tears' will be released as a 2CD and digital download, alongside a 4LP edition featuring an additional 13 tracks—6 of which are previously unreleased, plus 2 remixes, 2 live recordings, and 3 rare versions. The tracklist includes fan favorites like "Auto Rock," "Ritchie Sacramento," and "Remurdered," as well as a live version of "Mogwai Fear Satan." Just like their 1996 debut single "Tuner," this new release will also come out through the band's own label, Rock Action Records.
Beyond the music, Mogwai have also teamed up with creative studio Cup & Nuzzle to release their first-ever audio documentary, *Happy Tears: The Story Of Mogwai*, narrated by BBC 6 Music host Matt Everitt, with the band telling their own story in the first person for the very first time. In the documentary, Braithwaite reflects: "I never thought we'd make it to our 11th album, because barely any of the bands I love ever did. We're a bunch of weird Scottish instrumental misery machines—that's pretty wild when you think about it." The documentary will also launch on January 8, running roughly 2.5 hours, and can be pre-ordered as part of the deluxe edition of 'Happy Tears' or downloaded separately.
The band has also announced a 2026 European tour, hitting cities including Liège, Hamburg, Copenhagen, and Berlin throughout November, before wrapping up with two homecoming shows at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall on November 20 and 21.
