Wilderness of Mirrors (Lawrence English album)
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| Wilderness of Mirrors | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 21 July 2014 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 39:08 | |||
| Label | Room40 | |||
| Producer | Lawrence English | |||
| Lawrence English chronology | ||||
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Wilderness of Mirrors is a studio album by Australian record producer Lawrence English.[3] It was released on 21 July 2014 through Room40.[4] It received universal acclaim from critics.[5]
During the making of the album, Lawrence English drew inspiration from live performances by the bands Earth, Swans, and My Bloody Valentine.[6] The album's tracks were written with the "live experience of listening" in mind.[7] It took him two years to finish the album.[8] The album's title originates from T. S. Eliot's poem "Gerontion".[9] A music video was released for the track "Forgiving Noir".[8] The album was released on 21 July 2014 through his record label Room40.[4]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 82/100[5] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Fact |   [2] |
| MusicOMH | [10] |
| Pitchfork | 7.5/10[11] |
| The Skinny | [12] |
| Tiny Mix Tapes | [13] |
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Wilderness of Mirrors received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 82 out of 100 from 6 critic scores.[5]
Brian Howe of Pitchfork stated, "Wilderness of Mirrors isn't groundbreaking in general, but it is new territory for the often-cerebral English, and he puts an engaging, commanding stamp on this style of ambient overdrive hymn."[11] Maya Kalev of Fact commented that "Drone albums are by their nature immersive, but it's rare to come across one so tempestuous, evocative and compelling from start to finish as Wilderness of Mirrors."[2]
Gary Kaill of The Skinny wrote, "Built from almost intangible elements, Wilderness of Mirrors' aural scree is equal parts harmony and discord."[12] He added, "Its inarguable aesthetic makes for a listening experience as unsettling as it is exhilarating."[12] Pat Beane of Tiny Mix Tapes commented that "English makes us feel in our gut his sense of something-gone-wrong, which is central to our experience listening to this album."[13] He added, "To that end, he uses bass tones and shrill distortion to shake up the listener."[13]
Accolades
| Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fact | The 50 Best Albums of 2014 | 21 |
Track listing
All tracks are written by Lawrence English.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Liquid Casket" | 6:20 |
| 2. | "Wilderness of Mirrors" | 2:37 |
| 3. | "Guillotines and Kingmakers" | 2:02 |
| 4. | "Another Body" | 6:26 |
| 5. | "Wrapped in Skin" | 3:18 |
| 6. | "Forgiving Noir" | 8:25 |
| 7. | "Graceless Hunter" | 5:10 |
| 8. | "Hapless Gatherer" | 4:47 |
| Total length: | 39:08 | |
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.[15]
- Lawrence English – production
- Vanessa Tomlinson – bass drum (2), tam tam (5)
- James Plotkin – mastering
- Traianos Pakioufakis – design
- Edward Steichen – cover photography