It’s been around 3 years since the release of debut album ‘Aura’ and it appears that during that time there has been a major transformation. This is Mirror Revelations uncaged and letting go; ‘Ignea’ is harder faster and more aggressive; maximum propulsion from the bass and drums, maximum power from the churning synth violence. While the first album had some lighter touches and an open natural feel this is dense and claustrophobic, an electrically charged swamp of seething effects, a dirty electro hum and echoed vocals.
‘Ignea’ was created by Mexican duo Alam Castillo (bass, drums, synths) and Gabriela Alcala (synthesizers, lyrics and vocal melodies). They toured the UK a few years ago and made a great impression on all of us who saw them and they’re coming back in October to continue where they left off. There seems to be a massive burst of energy and creativity coming from the underground Mexican scene over the last few years with a lot of bands getting records released widely and getting tours abroad. I have no doubt that the music has always been there, but now with the global nature of the underground psych movement (for want of a better word) we’re all getting exposed to it and to music from far and wide, which for me is one of the outstanding things about the whole scene.
The song titles tell you what you need to know about where the band’s hearts and minds are at – ‘resist’ ‘burn’ ‘challenge’ – all statements of intent and dissatisfaction, the Mirror Revelations manifesto for much needed change. So, these may be protest songs but they’re also banging psyched-up heavy motorik dance tracks; insanely paced at times and brimming with energy and exuberance. The momentum never lets up throughout the record and there is a wired and gleeful feel which collides and meshes with the atmosphere created which is gritty, pressurized and dystopian.
Raw and brutal on first listen, repeated spins reveal strange melodies and frequencies shifting like ghosts just under the surface. If you let ‘Ignea’ into your brain it will open you up and take you apart…a hectic but joyous noise bringing liberation through repetition.
Listening to the album is an experience in itself, a speaker rattling punch in the guts, a blast of dark volcanic intensity; live this should be off the scale and I can picture the scene now… feels like a pounding techno-punk end of festival sonic meltdown waiting to happen…a premonition of Fuzz Club Eindhoven festival 2027 I hope…!?
Gary Powell, June 2026
