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Space Mirrors: In Darkness They Whisper. Space Mirrors / Acid FM: Dreams of Area 51 / Space Beyond Space
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Transubstans Records (TRANS097) / Monsterfuzz Records
 
The Russian multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Alisa Coral was recording demos for this album already in the change of 2009/2010 when I did an interview with her for Psychotropic Zone. The album’s theme is the horror world described in the stories of H. P. Lovecraft filled with abysmal, ancient gods from beyond the stars that will soon break the fragile human minds when they will be set free on Earth. As a die-hard Lovecraft fan I have naturally really been looking forward to this album and it sure is an excellent package of metal and space rock! In addition to Alisa (bass, synthesizers, electronic drums etc.) this album features her dark-voiced, trusted singer Martyr Lucifer (this time luckily only on clean vocals) as well as a large number of guitarists (Massimo Arke, Fabio ”Amon 418” Bartolini, John Pack, Sparky Simmons) and other guests (for example. Nik Turner, Alan Davey, Cyndee Lee Rule) on other instruments, so this again was a very international and sizeable project. The superb and gloomy cover art that suits the mood just perfectly is made by Kevin Sommers.
This one-hour-long blast of cosmic horror includes seven tracks the last of which (”Dreamquest of Unknown Kadath”) has been divided into eight acts. I do think that Alisa’s music has progressed a lot since the debut album. The bit incoherent chaos factor that has plagued some of the earlier albums has now been diminished and the tracks are much more together and clearer somehow. Of course you have to have some chaos on an album about the great Cthulhu, Azathoth and the fellows… The music is mainly rather hard rocking and metallic, mainly due to the tight guitarists (and on four tracks the monstrous bass playing of Alan Davey!). Luckily there are also some more serene, although very dark and gloomy parts in there. Also narration works very well on these. Nik Turner is well presented too: he plays saxophone, flute or clarinet on four tracks. This is absolutely the best album by Space Mirrors so far. Even though the album was recorded in very different studios all over the world In Darkness They Whisper sounds really good so Alisa has also made a superb mixing and mastering job. This is of course not for the faint-hearted since this is quite ferocious stuff… Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu.
Acid FM, a band by Sparky Simmons who plays guitar on one of the tracks (”Rue d’Auseil Is Missing) on In Darkness They Whisper, is a perfect companion for Space Mirror’s first vinyl release. Released on Sparky’s own label on a red 7”, the Space Mirrors / Acid FM split single includes one track by each band. ”Dreams of Area 51” is more laid-back than usual; a beautiful UFO-ballad that also features Nik Turner. The Acid FM track rocks harder and with a rather metallic touch not forgetting space rock and psychedelia. Another great tune! If you want this single that was released a year ago your best bet is to order it soon directly from Monsterfuzz Records since it’s limited to 300 copies only… Another recommendable purchase for the stoner rock friends would be the Monster Magnet tribute CD Kiss the Right Side of Your Brain that you can get together with this single for only 20 $ including postage!
www.spacemirrors.com
www.monsterfuzzrecords.com |
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