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Black Mirage — LP1
(Bandcamp Inner Demons Records IND206D, 2024, LP / DL)

by Henry Schneider, Published 2024-12-29

LP1 Cover art

The independent label Inner Demons Records releases noise, industrial, drone, ambient, and other experimental / extreme audio material by obscure artists, as well as the equally obscure label owner’s projects. Inner Demons Records is based in Tampa, Florida and since the Black Mirage release LP1 I received was mailed from Ridgewood, New York, I can only assume that the label owner and Black Mirage are two separate entities. And this is the sum total of all the knowledge I could find out about the artist and the label. The label artwork is reminiscent of 80s DIY cassette culture, high contrast photocopies. The half hour of music on LP1 is on two mini-CDr discs, which I did not think anyone used anymore. Fortunately I still have equipment that can play the mini-discs. The five instrumental tracks (“Crystal Dawn,” “Distant Sleep,” “Golden Mercy,” “Eve of Diamonds,” and “Hunger Stone”) are different improvised compositions with Appalachian mountain dulcimer strumming layered over synths, drones, and even harmonica. The music is quite good and reminds me of another obscure artist, German ethnic multi-instrumentalist Rudolf Birnbauer (AKA Gulââb) whose music was influenced by his travels in Nepal. There is a definite Krautrock vibe running throughout LP1, as well as dark 70s gothic psych. The music can be quite meditative or even trance-inducing, not a dull moment anywhere on Black Mirage’s sonic journey. Given the broad range and diversity of music on Inner Demons Records, I am not sure if Black Mirage is a typical release or a one-off. So I can certainly recommend LP1, while having reservations about the label.

Filed under: New releases, 2024 releases

Related artist(s): Black Mirage

More info
http://innerdemonsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/lp1-ind206d

 

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