Sons And Daughters - Mirror Mirror

Sons And Daughters - Mirror Mirror
Genre: Indie/Rock
Rating: 7.5/10

Sons And Daughters are a scottish quartet who have been on the indie music scene for about 10 years. This year sees them release their fourth LP Mirror Mirror. The band themselves have recieved some critical acclaim with trendy online websites such as drowned in sound and pitchfork both giving favourable reviews of their 2008 album This Gift. Whilst winning the hearts and minds of many in the music press commercially the band have remained fairly unknown throughout the UK. Chances are if you ask your friends about Sons And Daughters they will assume you're talking about the awful american drama of the same name.

The bands trademark sound is broad indie rock that ranges from garage style guitar driven rock tracks to acoustic folky ballads with a touch of Nick Cave. The real defining feature is the bands use of dual lead singers Adele Bethel and Scott Patterson. Adele provides the harmonies with an unmistakable sultry scottish brogue whilst Scott's deep voice makes him perfect for delivering the more moody and melancholic tracks. However many of the bands trademark sounds are suprisingly abscent on Mirror Mirror. Rather than sticking to their guns their fourth album sees the band make a shift towards a sound highly reminiscent of new wave/goth pioneers The Cure. The tracks are fairly minimalist in terms of guitar work leaving the bass to pick up the slack and drive the songs on with keyboard synths and the occasional reverb guitar working to create a dark and ominous gothic tone. Opener "Silver Spell" is a great example of this with its bass and drums slowly plodding on as synths slowly build layering on a tense bleak atmosphere comparable to nothing the band have ever done before. Other highlights include the eerie "Rose Red" which see's a driving bass groove met with intricate melodic guitar whilst Adele sings in a haunting half whisper. "Breaking Fun" provides another highlight from its moody slow start the song transitions into a full blown garage stomp for the chorus showing that the bands old stylistic leanings are still present. Whether this new style is here to stay or just another offshoot of the recent eighties revival trend is uncertain. Whether or not it works for the band is less of a question as the album is solid from start to finish.

Overall Sons And Daughter's have made a bold record with Mirror Mirror. Whilst Mirror Mirror was not the album many would have expected from the band it is a brilliant album none the less and compliments the bands diverse back catalogue. Recommended.

Download: "Rose Red" "Breaking Fun"