For a few geniuses, making music is not hard at all; ideas just seem to fly their ways. For others, every note, every beat is like an ordeal, as if they are fighting for every single step. In those cases, there is nothing to do but to keep at it and to prove one’s will power. Mind over matter, so to speak. We don’t exactly know what it’s like for Jaime Fennely. When looking at the regularity of him releasing new records (six records in six years), he, too, seems to be carried by ideas and creative power. And still, Mind Over Mirrors as this project of Fenelly’s is called, is quite inconsistent at times: Every new record marks a new step in his development, a new stage, a new evolution of his own existence as an artist and its output. Despite a few constant figures – like drone-like layers or the use of a harmonium – everything around keeps changing. When Mind over Mirrors first appeared on the scene (or on the dancefloor), his music mostly consisted of a coherent mixture of drones and minimal music. Hence, his »Drone-Piano«, a keyboard instrument operated by pedal, was his only logical choice, considering that its air pumping system almost sounds like a drone by nature. However, this time, it is mostly about layers, but also about the possibility to translate a single musician into a whole band. While Mind over Mirrors was a solo project from the very beginning, we now have to talk about an actual communication between musicians – and who would have guessed that? The drums, in particular, leave a lasting impression, even though they keep submitting themselves to the tracks. Hence, it sure isn’t hard to enjoy this record, not to mention the support by Jim Becker of Califone and especially Jacky Lynn aka Circuit des Yeux aka Haley Fohr. This screams for quality – and quality is the answer. Together, they have come up with a kind of Art Space-Folk, flittering back and forth between mass and myth, between experimental and prog. In Germany, one might call it Kraut – and would thereby embezzle its magical touch.
Black Country, New Road
Forever Howlong
Ninja Tune