What started in 2009 as a cassette triptych of releases (not including the Live tape) dedicated to the late-and-great King of Pop, Ekhein and Jugular Forest label owners Matthew Sullivan and Alex Twomey unified their separate monikers as Earn and Mirror To Mirror to generate vast, reflective interactions by marriage of guitar and synthesizer. Closing the doors on the collaboration, 1958-2009 have unveiled their final and most proper output on vinyl, presenting two 20-minute pieces extending across their respective sides.
The thought of a two-man act feels far-fetched when listening, as any boundaries between the employed instruments are rendered nonexistent. Looped arpeggios introduce themselves almost too smoothly to bear semblance to a guitar, and conversely their timbre and dependence of acoustics are inseparable, veiling any hint of electronic association. With unwavering correspondence all voices align with one another, migrating to each phase harmoniously. Weaving together every phrase is a simple yet effective resonance. Be it the dimensions of the recording space or a commonality between Sullivan and Twomey's pedal chains, shimmers and rumbles birth a multifarious and coalescent pastoral.
Any connections to Michael Jackson-- aside from the recording date of 1958-2009, on the one-year anniversary of his death-- seem to be a mystery. Their final cassette release in the series consisted of "Songs for the helicopter ride from the UCLA to USC medical centers." Perhaps the self-titled LP is an audio representation of MJ's final moments. If not, the meditative pacing of reverberant, string-like chords elicits an experience akin to ascension perceivable to anyone. As pensively as the album sails, its delicate fluctuations permeate every second.
[Buy 1958-2009 from Amethyst Sunset]
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