The Spiritual Leaders – Hall of Mirrors (2022)
Playing on and off since 2009, Irish trio The Spiritual Leaders have released a self-titled album (released in 2012) and several singles to critical acclaim. This is my introduction to The Spiritual Leaders, but their music has already turned heads across the globe with coverage from Lost In The Manor, Roadie Music, FV Music Blog and Zone Nights (to name but a few). The latest addition to their discography is the single ‘Hall of Mirrors’.
Hot on the heels of their single ‘Shadows and Tall Trees’, ‘Hall of Mirrors’ is the second single after a two-year band hiatus. At the end of 2020, The Spiritual Leaders released ‘Underwater With You’ before taking a quick break – a break that saw them honing their sound into something more eclectic. As with ‘Shadows and Tall Trees’, ‘Hall of Mirrors’ has a contemporary obscurity to it; however, the single retains a nostalgic throwback to the synth-pop sounds of the 80s.
Lying somewhere between Oasis and Pet Shop Boys, The Spiritual Leaders merge synth-pop with indie-rock and a tinge of grunge guitars in this new song. Sophisticated in the arrangement, ‘Hall of Mirrors’ has a soothing instrumental flow, but there is also a rugged innocence within the melody. It is as if you are setting off on a glistening sonic lake but are aware of the tempestuous waters beneath.
Mildly melancholic, a sprinkling of mournfulness can be heard in ‘Hall of Mirrors’ – something that relates to the intimate theme and execution. The lads explain that ‘Hall of Mirrors’ “is a song that relates to the coping mechanisms that mask the insecurities we don’t always want the outside world to see…”
In his interview with Lost In The Manor, The Spiritual Leaders’ Fergus Brady discussed the role of an artist in society and how he believes they should “provide creative work that can lift people up from mundane everyday life and provide some meaning.” In ‘Hall of Mirrors’, the group clearly expose human vulnerability and fragility in a delicate, elegant artistic expression.
For more from The Spiritual Leaders check out their Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
