Original Mirrors - Original Mirrors

Original Mirrors are mainly remembered for one reason: future Lightning Seed Ian Broudie was in the band. Original Mirrors formed in Liverpool, England, in 1979 after the collapse of vocalist Steve Allen's art rock group Deaf School in 1978. (Prior to the Original Mirrors, Broudie was a member of Big in Japan with Holly Johnson, Budgie and Jayne Casey). With Broudie on guitar, the band also featured Peter Kircher (drums), Jonathan Perkins (keyboards), and Phil Spalding (bass). Recalling glam and power pop, Original Mirrors don’t resemble Broudie's later '60s influenced work. The group's self-titled first album was released in 1980 with no commercial success; a similarly bleak fate awaited their next and last full-length, Heart Twango & Raw Beat, in 1981.

Fans of producer and Lightning Seeds frontman Ian Broudie might eye the self-titled debut from Original Mirrors with raised expectations. They will quickly be disappointed once they hear the album's dated power pop grooves.

Ooooo, this is gonna be harsh

Released in 1980, Original Mirrors features Broudie on guitar, but there's not even a trace of Broudie's incandescent new wave pop with Care and the Wild Swans. In fact, if Broudie's name wasn't in the credits, nobody would be able to guess his involvement. The first track, "Sharp Words," is lightweight neo-psychedelic rock that approximates the Teardrop Explodes' '60s feel, however, vocalist Steve Allen lacks range and personality. The blandness of Allen's voice prevents any of the songs from catching fire; then again, the repetitive lyric of tracks like “The Boys the Boys” doesn’t help, either. Broudie's affection for Motown probably inspired the cover of the Supremes' "Reflections"; unfortunately, it is embarrassingly flat. Although the LP is upbeat and energetic, the songs are rather forgettable. Collectors of Ian Broudie's work might be tempted to track down Original Mirrors in used vinyl shops; they should search for unopened copies because there isn't much on the LP worth hearing. Original Mirrors isn't a disaster; it's merely a small first blemish in Broudie's otherwise star-studded resume.

Review by Michael Sutton

Wow, that stung!

Anyway, ripped from the Arista US release (with customary changed track order) to MP3 @ 320kbps

Original Mirrors; Original Mirrors

A1.  Panic In The Night

A2.  Sharp Words

A3.  Could This Be Heaven

A4.  Boys Cry

A5.  Chains Of Love

B1.  Night Of The Angels

B2.  Reflections

B3.  The Boys The Boys

B4.  Flying

B5.  Feel Like A Train