Between indie rock and a hard place

2011 heralds a new dawn for rock band Mirrorkicks who release their new EP 'Breathe without this' on 4th April.

The last moments of the last decade saw Streatham's finest three-piece engrossed in a whirlwind recording session at Steve Winwood's Wincraft Studios. Under award-winning engineer and producer James Towler. Mirrorkicks have bagged four rock beauties which, after twentysomething minutes of intense, raw, thumping will leave listeners giddy, cooing and reaching for repeat.

It's true, the last track on their debut album did hint at something deeper, broodier and more hard-hitting to come and here it is. Mirrorkicks have shaken off their glam indie-punk image and transcended into massive beats, big bass and deliciously Muse-ish guitar riffs. Opening track 'Tearing your heart out' recalls distorted childhood memories of the K brothers' alcoholic father, while 'This will never be a home' speaks of a friend's battle to win the love of her foster son as he copes with the death of his biological mother. Dark themes of grief, breakdown, addiction and guilt run throughout, but unlike idols Radiohead, this is not music for the miserable. No, Mirrorkicks' new sound takes the spirit of post-Thatcher early nineties grunge and brings it thrashing into life with a dirty kick of naughties post-recession angst.

The early signs suggest this gamble might just see Mirrorkicks earn their first breakthrough hit. XFM DJ John Kennedy has already shown early love for lead track ‘Pin cushion heart’, playing it on his show before the song was even made public. Kennedy first got whiff of this catchy, Manicsesque anthem when Mirrorkicks played his live showcase, The Remedy, in Spring last year. The same is surely to follow for the final of the four tracks, 'Choose without this', whose uplifting swells, in a King's of Leon vein, would not sound out of place to a festival crowd.

Former guitarist Ed Pereira’s departure from the band is water under the bridge. With the successes and failures of last year's home-produced album still ringing, Mirrorkicks have laid demons to rest with one highly skilled shot into the darkness. Excellent musicianship and thrilling live performances make Mirrorkicks one to watch. And with the utmost finesse, James Towler has brought it all veritably to our ears. We can all be pleased that there's more to come from this band; two more EPs are due for release before the end of the year.

