Shiny?
Mirrors
XOYO, London
Rating: 
Excuse the hyperbole but watching Mirrors is very much like having an amazing dream. The Brighton quartet have achieved something quite brilliant – an old sound that feels new. Comparisons have been made to Kraftwerk, New Order, Depeche Mode and Gary Numan among others. They seem to have cut away the unnecessary to deliver a euphoric audio-visual tour de force.
Aesthetically they appear very different from most of their contemporaries. Monochrome suits and the way that they politely address the audience oblige you to take notice. Apparently most of their instruments were made before 1983 and with them they launch into the opener, Broken By Silence. Immediately we’re hit with a distinctive sound – an understatedly epic wall of synths and electric drums broken up by thoughtful, crystal clear lyrics. There’s a hint of the Who’s Teenage Wasteland in there too, intentional or not.
Again, their image is a big part of their appeal – from the fast-flashing images projected onto the wall behind them to front man James’s Ian Curtis-esque dancing and the remaining members’ minimalist playing style and robotic facial expressions. According to the band, that’s essentially how they live their whole lives. Sounds tiring, but if this is the result then fair play to them.
The rest of the fairly short set, including their two best known songs Ways to an End and Hide and Seek, was executed with jaw-dropping energy and pounding accuracy. I could have happily watched the whole thing again, and at one point both my companion and I genuinely felt shivers down our spines.
Mirrors’ claim that their forthcoming album, Lights and Offerings, is one of the best British albums of the last five years may not be unfounded. Time will tell but I have no qualms about saying that they are very much the bee’s knees. And you shouldn’t have any qualms about that either.
Thank you. Yes. Good point.
Baba O’Riley, bro