For several years Alisa Coral listened to and played music of different styles - space rock, industrial, metal, ambient and noise. She played bass and keyboards, and spent time trying to form a heavy metal band but due to the impossibility of establishing a stable line-up, those attempts were postponed for an indeterminate period of time. Alisa decided to continue as a solo artist but lack of equipment and funds frustrated her efforts to create high-quality music.
Everything changed in the year 2001 when various different electronic projects were planned. A demo consisting of 5 tracks was recorded and titled "Astral Shift". It was a starting point for the future... In Summer and Autumn the industrial-noise-ambient project "SynchroniCity" was recorded and released as a very limited edition of CDR's. It was something of a test, and good training for future recording and mixing. Right after that, Alisa began to work on a new album with real synthesizers.
In early 2002, the space synth music album, Mirrors' "Neutron Star", was recorded in a style similar to early Tangerine Dream, Tim Blake and Harvey Baindridge. It got good reviews and comments from the press and established musicians.
And it was time for something different. During March - April 2002 Frozen Fields' "Fimbulwinter" was recorded and mixed. It should be released on Falcata-Galia records in 2005.
During summer 2002 the first album of the Space Mirrors band "The Darker Side of Art" was conceived. The recordings began in August and soon it has truly become an international effort! Michael Blackman (known for his Alien Dream albums, Australia) joined the recording on guitars. Two songs were specially written for well known multi-talented musician Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon, Star One) from Holland. It was a real success when he agreed to take part in the album and recorded his guitar and vocals. Jim Lascko a.k.a. Finity (famous Strange Daze Festivals) designed the artwork layout and booklet. Steve Youles recorded acoustic guitar and solo for one track. It was beginning of 2003 already, vocals were recorded by Alisa and last bits and pieces of the album were left to be done. In March the final mixing of the album was completed. "The Darker Side of Art" is difficult to put in the limits of one style, it's appeared to be a mixture of music styles - heavy electronic, psychedelic, atmospheric and epic music based on a classic space rock approach (similar to Hawkwind and Ozric Tentacles). Music of Space Mirrors project deals with the darker side of the universe and so Alisa simply called it "Infernal Apocalyptic Space Rock". After "The Darker Side of Art" was released it got very good reviews all around the world. The song "Pale Ghosts" was featured on Eclipsed magazine "sampler vol.10" of July/August 2004 issue.
But Alisa Coral and Michael Blackman didn't stop at what was achieved and began work on a new album which shows a significant progress comparing to the first one – it’s titled “Memories of the Future”. Themes of the album deal with ancient civilizations and Ancient Astronauts theories, apocalyptic future and inspired by Frank Herbert's "Dune" novels. Musically it’s a new step in Space Rock music scene. While remaining true to progressive and psychedelic roots of the classic Hawkwind and High Tide albums it takes the full advantage of the modern recording technology and takes music on a new level. Songs of this epic album feature heavy guitar riffing allied to the soaring multi-synths, different types of vocals and pounding rhythms. Dark and apocalyptic, some songs have industrial flavour. As it was described “’the heaviest and closest to metal’ space rock album you have ever heard”.
Guest musicians who took part in “Memories of the Future” are Metatron (The Meads of Asphodel), Keith Kniveton (Starfield, ex-Hawkwind), Martin (Litmus) and Amber (Shadow Realms).
http://www.myspace.com/spacemirrors
DARKER SIDE OF ART is the debut CD by leading space-rock outfit SPACE MIRRORS.
