February 5th, 2012 → 4:57 pm @ chedicorn // No Comments
‘Making Mirrors’, the latest release by Aussie art pop maestro Gotye, is an impressive sonic feat thanks to the singer’s dedication to his craft and willingness to take chances
GOTYE/ MAKING MIRRORS
It’s been a pretty good year for Belgian-born Australian artist Wouter De Backer, having garnered praise and accolades for his latest release Making Mirrors in his home country and what many see as an impenetrable market, the US. For the uninitiated, De Backer, who also goes by the stage name Gotye (pronounced go-tea-yay), has been crafting pop music of depth coupled with mature songwriting _ both qualities so rarely found now in international chart-toppers.
After his debut Boardface and the highly acclaimed follow-up Like Drawing Blood, De Backer is back even stronger with his third effort. Making Mirrors opens with the one-minute title track, a solemn ode echoing the album’s themes of self-reflection and deception that features the following muffled verses: ”Dreamt of a doorway, that opened to everything/And I’m reaching towards it, drifting backwards.”
The mood suddenly shifts as the next track, Easy Way Out, kicks in. ”Braindead from boredom, I’m led to distraction/Scratching the surface of life, nothing really happens/But it’s easy to keep busy, when you tell yourself you’re travelling right,” De Backer sings over the delightful retro basslines and his own backing vocals.
The already massive Somebody That I Used to Know (featuring Kiwi songstress Kimbra) takes over with a playful intro while the two artists deal with an issue most can relate to _ a breakup (De Backer also tackles the same subject matter later in Eyes Wide Open).
The track won three Aria Awards (Single of the Year, Best Male Artist and Best Pop Release). And to cap it all off, the song recently topped the Triple J Hottest 100, Australia’s annual music poll organised by radio station Triple J.
Referring back to the album’s theme, Smoke and Mirrors opens with a bold statement: ”You’re a fraud and you know it, but it’s too good to throw it all away.” Apart from the candid lyrics, the track features a healthy dose of organ, brass, synth, drums and percussion _ pretty standard fare considering that De Backer has always been a keen explorer of diverse sounds. Further proof lies in the swinging ’60s I Feel Better (which unabashedly brings to mind retro soul king Cee Lo Green) and the folk-funky In Your Light (which evokes pop purveyors including Peter Gabriel and George Michael).
Despite the wide-ranging musical experimentation, our favourites turn out to be the mellow numbers such as Giving Me A Chance and Bronte. While both are equally exquisite in their simplicity, the latter’s lyrics (”We will be with you, and hold you ’til you’re quiet/It hurts to let you go,”) turn out to be the most effecting of the two.
On the whole, Making Mirrors is one fine pop record with plenty of quirks and attitude to keep us engaged and entertained. It can get a bit artsy at times (case in point: State Of The Art, Don’t Worry and We’ll Be Watching You), however, the songwriting is so relatable it will eventually creep up on you and open up your mind. Highly recommended if you’re looking to broaden your musical horizons.
Kelly Rowland/ Keep It Between Us
The queen of club bangers gets mellow on her seventh single from her latest solo album Here I Am. The sensual RB ballad reminds us how great Rowland is as a vocalist. ”Not a thing in this world, I won’t give up/Can’t live in this world if I’m not next to you,” she croons during the bridge before using her killer falsetto to beg ”So don’t give your love away, away, away.” While there is nothing earth-altering about the track, it’s refreshing to see Rowland get in touch with her softer side especially after a series of high-energy sexified jams such as Motivation, Lay It On Me and Down For Whatever.
Taio Cruz/ Troublemaker
Speaking of the queen, here comes the king. British singer/songwriter Taio Cruz gives us a preview of what to come from his forthcoming third album, TYO. Not too far from Cruz’s earlier club jams such as Dynamite and Dirty Picture, Troublemaker builds on infectious house beats courtesy of producers Swedish House Mafia. Cruz’s (not so) secret weapon, as we all know, is his killer hook, and this track sure comes armed with one: ”I throw my hands up, if you believe in me now/I keep my hands up, and do it all for the now.” Yes, it’s clearly made for the dancefloor and no, there’s really no substance to speak of.
Ladyhawke/ Black, White Blue
After almost five years in the doldrums, Kiwi singer/songwriter Pip Brown, aka Ladyhawke, finally follows up her 2008 eponymously titled debut with Black, White Blue, from her upcoming second EP, Anxiety. If you loved Paris is Burning and My Delirium, be prepared to add this track to the list. It’s a perfect marriage between cutesy electro effects and Brown’s signature grungy guitar. Throw in the catchy hook ”On and on through the night and the milky way, it’s black and white and blue for you/Now and then when you cry, it will always be black and white and blue for you,” and the wait was well worth it.
Miike Snow Lykke Li/ Black Tin Box
After two delicious lead singles, Swedish electro pop outfit Miike Snow joins forces with a fellow Swede, Lykke Li, on Black Tin Box, the band’s third cut from their highly anticipated album, Happy To You. Riding on a distorted, brooding background, the song does a great job haunting us with staggering synth, thundering drums and, of course, Lykki Li’s colder-than-ice vocals. We love how the last few minutes are dominated by nothing else but the drums and synths. Both intriguing and suspenseful, the track still manages to sound very catchy, albeit in a strange, otherworldly sort of way.
Tennis/ My Better Self
The Denver husband and wife duo release yet another cut from their second album Young Old. As with previous songs such as Marathon and new album’s first single Origins, the track is pretty much what you would expect from the loved-up indie poppers _ a mellow, lo-fi pop gem made to complement Alaina Moore’s sugar-coated vocals. Trust us, this is a perfect tune for your summer soundtrack. The album is slated for release on Valentine’s Day, so go grab one for your indie-inclined main squeeze.
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Tags: Pop Music
