“Mirrors & Ecstacy” is the latest release by Valvet, a superb Swedish band based in Lund. Heavily promoted by “Mountains,” a standalone single that vividly showcases what you might expect from this material, this extended play is their first piece of work in 2025, arriving after “Valvbum1,” a critically acclaimed debut full-length that you should also check out as soon as possible. Lyrically, the release reveals the band’s deepest emotions, moods, situations, and circumstances by exploring themes of conflict, lingering fear, and helplessness. Therefore, it’s a highly relatable material that will immediately resonate with the broader audience. Sonically, Valvet combines various styles, approaches, techniques, and directions in order to deliver a lush sonic ambiance that immediately wraps around your listening apparatus and refuses to let go long after the last notes and beats end. You’ll immediately notice indie rock, as the fundamental elements of this genre dominate in the mix the most, but do not be surprised if you stumble upon some of the finest properties borrowed from alternative rock, alternative pop, indie pop, and dream pop. They tastefully and wisely stacked all these additional sonic ingredients, using them as more than necessary enhancements, without spoiling the initial sonic direction. These experimentations with various music genres, approaches, techniques, and directions resulted in four catchy, memorable, hypnotic, addictive, and irresistible compositions that will not only appeal to indie rock fans but also to anyone who appreciates cleverly written, expertly composed, and flawlessly performed music.
This epic sonic journey commences with “Mountains,” a beautiful introductory piece that immediately channels some of the finest indie folk, folk rock, and acoustic rock moments you’ll hear in a while. Still, the band gradually introduces more indie rock instrumentations, making this track even more luxuriant, detailed, and profoundy. You’ll notice how all those chord progressions delivered on acoustic guitars support marvelous vocal harmonies until the remainder of the band joins in and creates such an otherworldly listening experience worth repeating over and over again. The entire band shines in the limelight, offering some of the best orchestrations you’ll hear in a while. Valvet’s writing, composing, arranging, and producing brilliance continues with “Half Measure,” a song that carries all the qualities of the previous track, but expanding into more complex, luxuriant, progressive indie rock waters. You’ll notice how all those guitar interplays shape a perfect backdrop for all the vocals to shine upon while the vividly hearable, warm-sounding basslines contribute more than necessary groove, power, warmth, and clarity. The soulful, passionate, confident, and emotive vocal performance elevates everything to new heights, commands attention, and leads listeners on an epic journey through the expansive sonic universe. The impressive vocal range seamlessly balances low, mid, and high notes with such precision and finesse, emphasizing everything the remainder of the band intended to achieve with this song. If previous compositions weren’t more than enough to convince you about Valvet’s craftsmanship, wait until you hear “Giving It Up.” It’s a profoundly energetic composition where expertly arranged, flawlessly performed, well-accentuated beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics shine in the limelight by keeping the remainder of the orchestrations in line while dictating groove and pace. The drumming was perfect on the first two songs as well, but this composition also showcases the drummer’s tremendous range, diversity of rhythmic patterns, and other drumming delicacies that true music enthusiasts will appreciate. These are also the moments where the band introduces catchy, memorable, engaging synth leads, themes, melodies, and harmonies, which, paired with lush guitar works, create ethereal and otherworldly ambiance. This marvelous EP comes to an end with “Falling,” another standout track from this material that showcases almost math-rock guitar themes, powerful rhythmic shifts, and more vocal maneuvers that offer more emotion and soul. It’s a perfect closure of an extended that certainly deserves to be spun over and over again.
“Mirrors & Ecstacy” not only showcases four incredible musicians doing what they love the most but also their fascinating skills, talent, creativity, knowledge, and experience, distilled into brilliant ideas and musicianship. Each composition carries its own ambiance, like it’s destined to be more of a standalone single, but together, these four songs represents perfect pieces of a greater sonic puzzle, willing to showcase Valvet’s impressive capabilities. “Mirrors & Ecstacy” demonstrates that indie rock can still sound fresh, unique, innovative, and exciting when written, composed, recorded, and produced by four outstanding musicians who write music straight from the heart. Therefore, head to your favorite streaming platforms and check this incredible EP.
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