Space Mirrors is the duet of Russian synthesist/multi-instrumentalist/composer Alisa Coral and Australian guitarist Michael Blackman. However, on two of the eight tracks they are also joined by Dutch guitarist Arjen Lucassen and the USA's own Steve Youles. As the band's name suggests, the CD stands squarely in the tradition of space-rock, with swirling waves of cosmic synths interlaced with overdriven guitar drones, occasionaly punctuated by whispered and processed vocals reciting sci-fi themed lyrics. There's also some electronic percussion. Mid-period Hawkwind is an obvious point of reference here, although I'm also reminded of Melting Euphoria due to the contemporary production values and the general instrumental feel of the album. There are also harsher, metallic guitar timbtes to be found here, especially on the 13 minute closing track "Dark Jedi", which features crunching riffs and wailing solos more typical of prog-metal; (or just straight forward metal) rather than space-music. True to the CD's title, there's a brooding, continuous moodiness to many of the tracks, with lots of minor keys, diminished scales and atmospherics that sound eerie rather than celestial. The metal influences add intensity and elements of menace, further heightening the darker sound. In my book the two stand-out tracks were CD openers "Portal Spell" and "The Crossroads Of The World", although the disc as a whole marks an impressive, evocative and compelling debut for this intercontinental project. Space rock enthusiasts - and even casual fans of the genre - would do well to check this out.
JIM CHOKEY for EXPOSE MAGAZINE, USA - Issue 31
I was driving at night on a long trip the first time I played this one, and only minutes after the first track started, I had to pull off the road for a few minutes for fear I would start spontaneously hallucinating. On opener, "Portal Spell", even before the song really gets underway, the listener is blanketed in loud swirling psychedelic guitar and keyboard effects, space whispers and the like, such that the composition that these effects are built on, is never truly revealed. "At the crossroads of worlds" has a recognizable beat underneath the maelstrom and chaos, but afgain the effectsare much more exaggerated than what seems to be a fairly Hawkiwnd-like space-rock groove underneath it all. "Space Mirrors" is the project of Russian keybaordist Alisa Coral and Australian guitarist Michael Blackman, and my guess is that this disc was assembled long distance by both participants, with help on a few tracks from guitarist Arjen Lucassen. On the fourth track, its primary weakness begins to reveal itself: drum programms; when effects are going full on and obscuring everything behind them, one might not notice.Vocals are all either whispered or heavily treated, and end up ebing fairly incidental in the greater scheme of it all. For greater impact they might be well advised to enlist a drummer on the next recording.
PETER THELEN for EXPOSE MAGAZINE, USA - Issue 31
Space Mirrors is led and directed by Alisa Corals who provides synths and vocals, and she is joined by Michael Blackman on guitars. They also have two guests on the album, one of them being Arjen Anthony Lucassen who provides some guitar and narration. I certainly wasn't aware of his appearance as a guest, and he recorded his guitars at his studio in Holland while Michael recorded his guitar at his studio in Australia, and Alisa did the rest of the work in Russia. Of course the album has been released on a Scottish label, and the follow-up has been released on a Greek label. This is an international project if nothing else! Musically this is a swirling morass of space rock, but it is bringing in many different styles and thoughts - so much so that when taken as a whole this album is very different to much that has been released within the genre, and is all the better for it.
There are times when the guitars come crunching through and the feeling is very much of Hawkwind, but there are often times when they are very much in the back seat and it becomes more like Tangerine Dream and then at others it is far more like Ozrics. There are not many vocals, the reliance is very much on the music and although there is the impression at times of free form improvisation it is far less prevalent than many others. The result is an album that contains far more depth than many space rock albums that I have heard and is certainly worthy of investigation.
KEV ROWLAND for FEEDBACK, UK - Issue 87. Contact feedbackfanzine@hotmail.com
More reviews to follow soon.........
