Years active 2011-present Members Luke Worle Record label Surrism-Phonoethics | Labels suRRism Phonoethics Origin Leeds, United Kingdom | |
Genres Alternative rock, Independent music, Art rock | ||
Distortion Mirrors is an English alternative rock band, based in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, and who was formed in 2011.
Contents
Formation
Classically trained pianist Luke Worle is the primary songwriter, and the band began as an arty Dream-Pop bedroom project called "Starry Eyed Wonder" but quickly changed gears. They recorded their debut EP with producer Sylvia Massy, who has produced records for such bands as Tool, System of a Down, Johnny Cash, Red Hot Chili Peppers and others. The resulting EP, "Circle of Wolves", was released in the summer of 2011 by the experimental German label Surrism-Phonoethics. In late 2011, the band relocated to Los Angeles and played a series of shows in Hollywood including The Whiskey A Go Go, broadening their appeal and shaping their sound from industrial noise to the 90's alternative rock of Smashing Pumpkins and My Bloody Valentine.
Zeros and Kings EP
In 2012, Distortion Mirrors finished recording their second EP in Los Angeles. The first single from the "Zeros and Kings" EP, "Death by Love" was released by Under the Radar (magazine) to enthusiastic buzz with the band favorably compared to Smashing Pumpkins and Nine Inch Nails. Impose Magazine praised the track, writing "Luke Worle and Josiah Brooks further live up to their moniker reflective fuzziness as they prepare their follow up to 2011's suRRism Phonoethics release, Circle of Wolves with precision guided dissonance applied to the infectious vernacular." Shortly thereafter Beats Per Minute (website) premiered the second single, "Streets of Fire, Heart of Ice" to glowing praise, with writer Joshua Pickard saying "Bands like The Smashing Pumpkins and Weezer lay battered alongside the wayside as the duo rushes through their collective influences at a marathon pace.". The press has favorably compared the duo, consisting of Worle on synthesizers and lead vocals and Brooks on guitar, to the edgier and grittier alternative rock movement of the 1990s.
Spin Magazine gave the 3rd and final single "Prom Queen" a positive review, with writer Kyle McGovern calling the song "a fuzzy hip-shaker that lines quiet-loud dynamics with New Wave glee". Impose Magazine's Sjimon Gompers wrote "'Prom Queen' takes you back to those awkward dances, where the tiaras are discarded for the superficiality of the pomp and circumstance that most are forced to go and grow through during the so-called, 'time of your life'." Poptimes Magazine has featured "Death by Love" trending in their popular section for the summer. Beats Per Minute said of Distortion Mirrors that "They concoct a dense, viscous amalgamation of their influences and let the sounds bounce off one another in a spiraling display of studio wizardry."
Alan Cross wrote that the band "showcase their appreciation for such seminal acts as My Bloody Valentine and even Sonic Youth with Brooks’ carefree guitar in the mix". Distortion Mirrors digitally released their proper debut LP "Zeros and Kings" on 13 August via Phoebe Records, LTD and will do a series of mini UK show dates in the Winter of 2014. Jay Abbondanza of Violent Success magazine praised the album, awarding it an 8.8. out of 10 and concluding that "I can't wait to see their next reflection". Matt Crosslin of Down the Line Zine wrote that the record "explores a very interesting tension between dark themes and hope, between dealing with demons and finding redemption"
The band was nominated for Los Angeles's Deli Magazine's "Artist of the Month" and won in September 2013. Expanding to a 4 piece in 2015, Distortion Mirrors are currently doing a tour of the United Kingdom. The band is now back in the US prepping for a tour in support of their upcoming E.P. Lost Tapes.
Influences
The band cite Smashing Pumpkins, Peter Gabriel, My Bloody Valentine, Mogwai, Keith Green, The Beatles, The Ronettes, Phil Spector and Black Sabbath as strong influences in their sound, creative aesthetic and approach to music, both sonically and psychologically. They are strong proponents of synthesizing art and faith. In August 2013, they were featured in BPM Magazine's Q and A "On Deck" in which they discussed the records that shaped their art, faith and music making perspective.