Review
Young the Giant's 'Mirror Master' unfolds like a kaleidoscope of self-reflection, each track a shard of glass revealing a different facet of the human experience. Released in the crisp autumn of 2018, this fourth studio offering from the alternative rock quintet shimmers with introspection, its melodies dancing between laid-back reverie and pulsating energy.
Sameer Gadhia's vocals float like mist over the album's sonic landscape, at times gossamer-thin and delicate, at others swelling with raw emotion. 'Superposition' stands as a mesmerizing centerpiece, its Indian-Asian influenced harmonies weaving an entrancing spell that lingers in the mind long after the song ends. Meanwhile, 'Simplify' bursts forth like a sunbeam through clouds, its chorus an uplifting anthem of clarity amidst life's complexities.
Though the album's midsection may meander slightly, losing some of its initial sparkle, it finds its footing again in the latter half. 'Glory' shines with vulnerability, Gadhia's lyrics laying bare the human soul with poetic precision. While 'Mirror Master' may not eclipse the band's earlier works, it remains a worthy addition to their repertoire, a musical journey through the ever-shifting prism of identity and self-discovery. - Maia
