Mirror, Mirror
By The Irrepressibles
Impression: I wanted to find something new and different to review for today....and I found it and, as hoped, it is a gem. The Irrepressibles isn't the kind of sound people are used to. The short story is that it's far more theatrical and dramatic. The even shorter story is that it's awesome and, true to form, I loved every minute. Jamie McDermott, who serves as the composer and vocalist, is a performance artist from London, and if you see pictures of him on the Internet, he is no stranger to flashy make-up and costumes. What truly makes him unique as an artist, though, is his gorgeous tenor voice that has a range few females can achieve --reaching death-defying falsetto heights before plummeting to deep melancholic reverie-- and a vibrato that seriously makes me jealous (I've always had a pretty straight vocal sound). It's a voice that emotes character -- even if that character is a younger, more sensitive version of Snidely Whiplash. Indeed, the whole album sounds as if it could be sung from the point of view of a villain in a storybook--or at least that's my impression-- and it's an interesting perspective. Don't let the comic books fool you, a hero is always a hero but a villain is a unique entity unto himself. There is always a tragic backstory behind why those hot messes became bitter criminal masterminds--Oh, how soon we forget the sad conclusion of "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog."
The vocals and the concept are supported by a magnificent ten-piece orchestra which fills in the spaces with enchanting violins, airy flutes, and fantastic guitar music played by none other than the composer himself. This is an incredible first album and, even if you don't fully understand the music, reserve your judgement and preconceived notions until after you've listened to it one time through.
Songs to Check Out: This has gone to the top of My List but I get that not everyone is open to new experiences so wet your feet with .... "In Your Eyes," "Nuclear Skies," and my personal favorite, "The Tide." Otherwise, their first single is "In This Shirt."
Sounds Like: Experimental Glam Rock from a fairytale cabaret
Buy it here: Amazon and Itunes
More info: The Irrepressibles Website
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