After a long wait and the nice teaser Pieces EP, we finally have the next great thing from this shoegazer band out of Florida. The album contains a dozen great new tracks that hold the listener captivated for the duration. They remain true to their original style without compromising anything, and so like previous works they really come through on this album.
The disc opens with "Say When" beginning with hauntingly minimalistic guitars and Regina's beautiful vocals portraying the deeply emotional lyrics. With each new track the listener is brought up to this powerful crescendo in one way or another and suddenly left hanging, feeling almost devastated, as if the brought in as the character at the center of the entire lyrical and musical story.
And on and on the album goes through this emotional frenzy of highs and lows. Those that picked up the EP will recognize the torturous "Pieces", the poignant "No Other Way" and upbeat "Window Seat". Each of these shows how the music spans so many emotional aspects through the simple, yet thought-provoking lyrics, the range of musical compositions, soaring guitars and moving percussion.
With the simple nature of the lyrics and how captivating and mesmerizing they are through Regina's enchanting voice, the listener realizes how beauty is accomplished through simplicity. Yet that's not really all that listeners find so attractive about this group either. It's really a combination of everything put together, even though the lyrics are simple, they are still deeply emotional in many ways and often reflective. But when you throw into the mix the awesome guitar work on each track, you realize they almost become extra lyrics and vocals, adding a substantial emotional and spiritual nature to the music. In the same way, Regina's vocals become another instrument through the use of these simple lyrics.
The remaining tracks on the album are all great masterpieces in this genre. From the appropriately titled "Highs and Lows" to the finale to the album "Hinterland", there is a perfect flow of energy and continuity through the music. The album wraps up with all the force these artist can muster and should satisfy the most hard-core fan.
Rating: 4.5/5
Following up on the teasing Pieces EP, Tallahassee's lovely Mira graces us mere mortals with there I go daydreamer, a beautifully wrought soundscape of glimmering textures and delicate emotions. Regina Sosinski's heavy thoughts and feelings contrast nicely with the light atmosphere of tunes like "Passerby," "Window Seat" and "Highs in the Lows," as the guitars swirl around her siren song and the rhythm section prods everybody forward. "Hinterlands" ends the record in a cloud of distortion and fog, as Sosinski coolly asks "What do you have to say?" Gorgeous, melancholy stuff. -Michael Toland
One of the problems with "shoegazer" music is that it's always assumed that it's all avoidance and drone, with no depth behind the mope. Mira is not even close to that sort of thing.
Here the shoegaze is grafted to goth, and you observe the subtleties and feeling of the respective parts, with the musical chops to back it all up. There are even times (as with the last track) that the music is almost aggressive in its delivery. What helps all this is that all the elements of the music are allowed to come out, with a clarity that enunciates the depth of skill this band has. This is one group you can obviously depend on. If I were to pick out a song that best defines the album, I would go with "Highs in the Lows." It's a bit faster than some of the others, and damned if it doesn't endear itself on the first listen. Having said that, the entire album satisfies in a way that few can, and this isn't one you are likely to part with easily. -Haakon Nelson