Mirrors (band)
Encyclopedia
Mirrors are an English
synthpop
band originating from Brighton
who formed in 2008. The band consists of James New (lead vocals and synthesizers), Ally Young (synthesizers and vocals), James Arguile (synthesizers) and Josef Page (electronic drums). They prefer to describe their music as 'electronic soul' and 'pop noir' with their main instruments being analogue synthesizers.
Their brand of synthesizer driven pop music is commonly compared to the sound of bands such as Kraftwerk
, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
, Depeche Mode
and Blancmange
. They released their début album in February 2011 called Lights and Offerings
which was promoted by a number of singles in 2010 and 2011.
Once the basics were set, James Arguile would soon join the group followed by Josef Page, leaving behind him a promising career in hospital administration, as the final member and they started working on their visuals which would include suits and ties and keeping control over their artwork and videos.
", released through the Pure Groove
label, supposedly to be limited to just 200 copies on a one-sided red vinyl 7". Soon after their first release they signed up with Moshi Moshi and released their second single, "Into the Heart
" in November, which also featured a new B-side called "Lights and Offerings", a title they would use in 2011 for their début album.
. Skint Records appeared to be an obvious choice, because the label is from Mirrors' home town Brighton, making face-to-face contact much easier. The label also understand their goals and artistic direction.
Mirrors continued with performing the occasional gigs in the United Kingdom
until they headed into the studio in June 2010, working on their début album. Having written most of the material already in 2009, the album sessions could be finishing in just one month. The first single from these sessions was "Ways to an End
", released on August 23 as a download and 7" vinyl single. They toured as a support act for Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark in November 2010 and released two more singles and a special tour EP
before their début album Lights and Offerings
was released on February 28, 2011 in the UK and on March 18 in Europe.
They started touring as a headline act on April 12, 2011 in Cologne
, Germany
and will be supporting Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark in Spain in June of this year.
A fourth single from the début album was released on 6 June 2011 being "Look at Me" with the double A-side "Perfectly Still". The single was previously released in 2009 on the Pure Groove label. The new single features a new remix by Simon Thornton
.
Mirrors' first documentary was aired on Channel 4 on 9 June 2011 at 0:35am GMT as part of the 4Play program. On 8 July 2011 they performed live in Berlin, Germany, at the Michalsky Stylenite
fashion show which was streamed live on the internet
On 16 August 2011 Mirrors announced that they cancelled the September performances with OMD plus their performance at Bestival, Isle Of Wight, as they are currently working on new material.
Radioactive Man
released a remix of the Mirrors' track "Ways to an End" on 12 September 2011. The digital bundle contains a remix and an instrumental version of that remix.
On October 13th Ally Young announced he was leaving the band.
Two new songs were made available on the band's Myspace
account and SoundCloud
on 19 October 2011. They also confirmed that the remaining three band members will continue and are back in the studio recording further tracks.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
band originating from Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
who formed in 2008. The band consists of James New (lead vocals and synthesizers), Ally Young (synthesizers and vocals), James Arguile (synthesizers) and Josef Page (electronic drums). They prefer to describe their music as 'electronic soul' and 'pop noir' with their main instruments being analogue synthesizers.
Their brand of synthesizer driven pop music is commonly compared to the sound of bands such as Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008...
, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark are a synthpop group whose founding members are originally from the Wirral Peninsula, England...
, Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
and Blancmange
Blancmange (band)
Blancmange are a British synthpop band who came to prominence with a string of hits in the early to mid 1980s.-Biography:Blancmange was formed in Harrow, Middlesex in 1979 by singer Neil Arthur and instrumentalists Stephen Luscombe and Laurence Stevens...
. They released their début album in February 2011 called Lights and Offerings
Lights and Offerings
Lights and Offerings is the first studio album by British synthpop band Mirrors. The album was released in the UK on 28 February 2011 and on 18 March 2011 in Europe....
which was promoted by a number of singles in 2010 and 2011.
Formation (2008)
Mirrors were formed by James New and Ally Young after Mumm-Ra broke up in 2008. The two met in Brighton in 2008 and started working on the idea of, according to them, the ideal group, in May 2008. James: "This ideal group would have visuals as part of their live experience. It would have things going on on pavements. It would play in the middle of a room."Once the basics were set, James Arguile would soon join the group followed by Josef Page, leaving behind him a promising career in hospital administration, as the final member and they started working on their visuals which would include suits and ties and keeping control over their artwork and videos.
"Look at Me" / "Into the Heart" (2009)
Their first live performance was in May 2009 at New Hero in Brighton. After demoing some songs that year such as "Fear of Drowning", "Hide and Seek", "Searching in the Wilderness" and "Write Through the Night" (called "Organ Song" as a demo, because of the heavy usage of organ-soundlike synthesizers), the first single would become "Look at MeLook at Me (Mirrors song)
"Look at Me" is the first studio single by British synthpop band Mirrors. The single was released in the UK on 10 August 2009 as a one sided 7" on red vinyl and as a digital download...
", released through the Pure Groove
Isomorph Records
Isomorph Records, also known as Isomorphs, is an independent record label based in London. The label is run by acclaimed designer, illustrator and entrepreneur Kate Moross....
label, supposedly to be limited to just 200 copies on a one-sided red vinyl 7". Soon after their first release they signed up with Moshi Moshi and released their second single, "Into the Heart
Into the Heart (Mirrors song)
"Into the Heart" is the second studio single by British synthpop band Mirrors. The single was released in the UK on 2 November 2009 as a 7" vinyl single and as a digital download on the Moshi Moshi Records label....
" in November, which also featured a new B-side called "Lights and Offerings", a title they would use in 2011 for their début album.
Lights and Offerings (2010-present)
After this they came to the attention of Skint RecordsSkint Records
Skint Records is a Brighton based dance music record label owned by JC Reid, Tim Jeffery and Damian Harris. It was created as a sublabel of Loaded Records, also founded by Reid and Jeffery...
. Skint Records appeared to be an obvious choice, because the label is from Mirrors' home town Brighton, making face-to-face contact much easier. The label also understand their goals and artistic direction.
Mirrors continued with performing the occasional gigs in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
until they headed into the studio in June 2010, working on their début album. Having written most of the material already in 2009, the album sessions could be finishing in just one month. The first single from these sessions was "Ways to an End
Ways to an End
"Ways to an End" is the third studio single by British synthpop band Mirrors. The single was released in the UK on 23 August 2010 as a 7" single and as a digital download....
", released on August 23 as a download and 7" vinyl single. They toured as a support act for Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark in November 2010 and released two more singles and a special tour EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
before their début album Lights and Offerings
Lights and Offerings
Lights and Offerings is the first studio album by British synthpop band Mirrors. The album was released in the UK on 28 February 2011 and on 18 March 2011 in Europe....
was released on February 28, 2011 in the UK and on March 18 in Europe.
They started touring as a headline act on April 12, 2011 in Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and will be supporting Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark in Spain in June of this year.
A fourth single from the début album was released on 6 June 2011 being "Look at Me" with the double A-side "Perfectly Still". The single was previously released in 2009 on the Pure Groove label. The new single features a new remix by Simon Thornton
Simon Thornton
Simon Thornton is a Brighton-based recording engineer, mix engineer, remixer, producer and musician.First worked at Esselle Beat studios in late 1980s, but later became resident engineer for Norman Cook in all his various guises as Fatboy Slim, Freakpower, Pizzaman, Mighty Dub Katz et al.Thornton...
.
Mirrors' first documentary was aired on Channel 4 on 9 June 2011 at 0:35am GMT as part of the 4Play program. On 8 July 2011 they performed live in Berlin, Germany, at the Michalsky Stylenite
Stylenite
The Stylenite is a cultural event organized by Berlin’s designer Michael Michalsky. It has evolved from Michalsky’s fashion shows and takes place twice a year during Berlin Fashion Week...
fashion show which was streamed live on the internet
On 16 August 2011 Mirrors announced that they cancelled the September performances with OMD plus their performance at Bestival, Isle Of Wight, as they are currently working on new material.
Radioactive Man
Keith Tenniswood
Keith Tenniswood is a British DJ, producer, and remixer.Tenniswood is better known as one half of the electronic act Two Lone Swordsmen alongside Andrew Weatherall....
released a remix of the Mirrors' track "Ways to an End" on 12 September 2011. The digital bundle contains a remix and an instrumental version of that remix.
On October 13th Ally Young announced he was leaving the band.
Two new songs were made available on the band's Myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
account and SoundCloud
SoundCloud
SoundCloud is an online audio distribution platform which allows collaboration, promotion and distribution of audio recordings.-History:SoundCloud was originally started in Stockholm, Sweden, but was established in Berlin, Germany in August, 2007 by sound designer Alex Ljung and artist Eric Wahlforss...
on 19 October 2011. They also confirmed that the remaining three band members will continue and are back in the studio recording further tracks.
Singles
- "Look at MeLook at Me (Mirrors song)"Look at Me" is the first studio single by British synthpop band Mirrors. The single was released in the UK on 10 August 2009 as a one sided 7" on red vinyl and as a digital download...
" (2009) - "Into the HeartInto the Heart (Mirrors song)"Into the Heart" is the second studio single by British synthpop band Mirrors. The single was released in the UK on 2 November 2009 as a 7" vinyl single and as a digital download on the Moshi Moshi Records label....
" (2009) - "Ways to an EndWays to an End"Ways to an End" is the third studio single by British synthpop band Mirrors. The single was released in the UK on 23 August 2010 as a 7" single and as a digital download....
" (2010) - "Hide and SeekHide and Seek (Mirrors song)"Hide and Seek" is the fourth studio single by British synthpop band Mirrors. The single was released in the UK on 15 November 2010 as a 7" single, 12" single and as a digital download....
" (2010) - "Into the Heart" (2011)
- "The White EPThe White EP (Mirrors EP)"The White EP" is a Record Store Day 7" single on white vinyl by British synthpop band Mirrors. The single was released in the UK on 16 April 2011.The single includes two songs which were released on Mirrors' first EP Broken by Silence in November 2010....
"' (2011) - "Look at Me" (2011)
- "Ways to an End" (2011)
Promotional releases
The releases below were issued on CD for promotional purposes only.- Coming 2010 (2009)
- Remixes (03/2010)
- Mixtape (07/2010)
- Theme Time Radio Ear II (08/2010)
- Theme Time Radio Ear III (09/2010)
Tour dates
Below is an overview of all known tour dates, including the cancelled shows.| Date | City | Country | Venue | Other acts at venue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 12, 2009 | Brighton | United Kingdom | New Hero | ||
| May 20, 2009 | London | Hoxton Square Bar | Giantess, Erik Hassle, Disco Bloodbath | ||
| May 31, 2009 | Southsea | Edge of the Wedge | Mutiny on the Bounty, Venice Ahoy | ||
| July 11, 2009 | Brighton | Corn Exchange | |||
| July 19, 2009 | Suffolk | Latitude Festival | Phoenix, Passion Pit, The xx | ||
| August 14, 2009 | London | The Garage | |||
| Ocotber 15, 2009 | Barfly Camden | Jay Bless da Riddum, Young Rebel Set | |||
| October 30, 2009 | Cargo | ||||
| November 20, 2009 | Amsterdam | The Netherlands | Paradiso | ||
| January 7, 2010 | London | United Kingdom | The Garage | Delphic | Support act |
| January 14, 2010 | Norwich | Norwich Arts Centre | |||
| January 15, 2010 | Oxford | O2 Academy Oxford | |||
| January 16, 2010 | Sheffield | The Leadmill | |||
| January 19, 2010 | Brighton | Audio | |||
| January 20, 2010 | Wolverhampton | The Slade Rooms | |||
| January 21, 2010 | Liverpool | The Kazimier | |||
| January 22, 2010 | Glasgow | King Tut's Wah Wah Hut | |||
| January 23, 2010 | Leeds | The Cockpit | |||
| February 6, 2010 | London | The Borderline | Chew Lips, Charli XCX, Expatriate | ||
| February 9, 2010 | |||||
| May 30, 2010 | Newcastle Upon Tyne | Evolution Festival Weekender | Paolo Nutini, Delphic, The Horrors | ||
| June 29, 2010 | London | Barfly Camden | Chakras, Hektor Red | ||
| July 7 2010 | Hoxton Square Bar | ||||
| July 13, 2010 | Madam Jojo's | The Hundred In The Hands, MNDR | |||
| July 14, 2010 | Brighton | New Hero | |||
| July 16, 2010 | Cleveland | Ku Bar | |||
| July 17, 2010 | Southampton | Unit | |||
| July 23, 2010 | London | The Watershed | |||
| July 31, 2010 | Proud Camden | Run Toto Run, The Whip DJ Set | |||
| August 2, 2010 | Glasgow | King Tut's Wah Wah Hut | |||
| August 3, 2010 | Leeds | Oporto | |||
| August 4, 2010 | Sheffield | The Forum | |||
| August 5, 2010 | Leicestershire | The Musician | |||
| August 7, 2010 | London | Little London Fields Festival | Anna Calvi, Kill It Kid, Don't Wait Animate | ||
| August 13, 2010 | Birmingham | The Digbeth | |||
| August 18, 2010 | London | The Lexington | Fleur and LYS CLUB | ||
| August 20, 2010 | Bristol | Start The Bus | |||
| August 21, 2010 | York | The Basement | |||
| August 27, 2010 | London | KOKO | |||
| September 10, 2010 | London | The Monarch | Royal Palms | Cancelled | |
| September 23, 2010 | Farnham | Farnham Student Union | |||
| September 25, 2010 | Brighton | Audio | |||
| October 5, 2010 | Jam | Mount Kimbie | |||
| October 7, 2010 | Audio | We Have Band, Bright Light Bright Light | |||
| October 16, 2010 | Amiens | France | Nuit Blanche | ||
| November 3, 2010 | London | United Kingdom | City and Arts Music Project | Midnight Juggernauts | |
| November 5, 2010 | Electrowerx | Ulterior, Rubicks, Lord Auch | |||
| November 11, 2010 | Cologne | Germany | E-Werk | Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark | Support act |
| November 12, 2010 | Hannover | Capitol | |||
| November 13, 2010 | Leipzig | Haus Auensee | |||
| November 15, 2010 | Stuttgart | Stuttgart Theaterhaus | |||
| November 16, 2010 | Munich | Tonhalle | |||
| November 18, 2010 | Berlin | Tempodrom | |||
| November 19, 2010 | Hamburg | Docks Hamburg | |||
| November 21, 2010 | Luxembourg | Luxembourg | Den Atelier | ||
| November 22, 2010 | Brussels | Belgium | Ancienne Belgique | ||
| November 23, 2010 | Amsterdam | The Netherlands | Paradiso | ||
| November 25, 2010 | Paris | France | Casino de Paris | ||
| November 30, 2010 | Birmingham | United Kingdom | Academy 3 | ||
| December 2, 2010 | Bristol | Thekla | Delphic | Cancelled | |
| December 3, 2010 | London | Ronnie Scotts | |||
| December 4, 2010 | Brighton | Audio | |||
| December 13, 2010 | London | XOYO | Pnau | ||
| February 5, 2011 | The Garage | Fenech-Solar, Is Tropical | |||
| February 10, 2011 | O2 Shephard's Bush Empire | White Lies, Crocodiles | |||
| March 2, 2011 | Birmingham | Hare and Hounds | Fugiya and Miyagi | Support act | |
| March 3, 2011 | Salford | Islington Mill | |||
| March 4, 2011 | Leeds | Brudenell Social Club | |||
| March 5, 2011 | Bristol | Fleece | |||
| March 8, 2011 | London | Heaven | |||
| April 2, 2011 | Troxy's | Gary Numan, John Foxx, Motor, DJ set Daniel Miller & Mark Jones | Festival | ||
| April 12, 2011 | Cologne | Germany | Gebäude 9 | ||
| April 13, 2011 | Berlin | Comet Club | |||
| April 14, 2011 | Hamburg | Molotov | |||
| April 16, 2011 | Frankfurt | Yellowstage | |||
| April 20, 2011 | Munich | Atomic Cafe | |||
| April 22, 2011 | Zurich | Switzerland | The Plaza | ||
| April 23, 2011 | Vienna | Austria | Badeschiff | ||
| May 7, 2011 | Vilagarcia | Spain | Festival do Norte | Festival | |
| May 11, 2011 | Brighton | United Kingdom | Haunt | ||
| May 22, 2011 | Brussels | Belgium | Les Nuits Botanique | Suuns, The Crookes | |
| May 28, 2011 | Lewes | United Kingdom | Meadowlands Fest | Festival | |
| June 14, 2011 | Madrid | Spain | Arena | Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark | Support act |
| June 15, 2011 | Barcelona | Apolo | |||
| June 18, 2011 | Paris | France | La Flèche d'Or | Modern English, Flying Turns, Destin | |
| June 22, 2011 | Ertfurt | Germany | Thuringen Halle | Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark | Support act |
| June 23, 2011 | Leipzig | Parkbühne | |||
| June 26, 2011 | Glastonbury | United Kingdom | Glastonbury Festival | Festival | |
| July 1, 2011 | Coventry | Godiva Festival | |||
| July 2, 2011 | Lancashire | Beat Herder Festival | |||
| July 8, 2011 | Berlin | Germany | Tempodrom | Michalsky Fashion Show | |
| July 29, 2011 | London | United Kingdom | Vintage at the Southbank | Festival | |
| August 5, 2011 | Salzburg | Austria | Rockhouse | Cancelled | |
| August 14, 2011 | Hildesheim | Germany | M'era Luna Festival | ||
| September 1, 2011 | Cologne | Tanzbrunnen | Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark | Cancelled | |
| September 2, 2011 | Hamburg | Stadtpark | |||
| September 5, 2011 | Berlin | IFA Sommergarten, Messe | |||
| September 6, 2011 | Schwerin | Freilichtbühne | |||
| September 10, 2011 | Isle of Wight | United Kingdom | Bestival | ||
External links
- Official Website
- Ten Times Top Five To Mirrors Mirrors presents their top 5 lists.