“Virlyn and An Moku’s release, ‘Of Mirrors’ has an organic element. Meaning there is a naturalness to the ‘putting together’ of each song. The album is for explorers, while the sounds settle in being extremely meditative, surreal, and ambient. They take old classical instruments and use them as acoustic drones while acquiring and manipulating specific elements of the sounds for each song. Both musicians have an outstanding history from creating theatrical performances of Herman Hesse novels to being part of supporting acts for Whitney Houston, Joe Cocker and several others.
The phrase ‘Nature is beautiful’ is a purveying interpretation for the listener here. As they hear slow waves, and other ‘found’ sound samples, played alongside the dirgeful drones and scattered bits of solemn strings, “Of Mirrors” brings out the beauty in a natural progression. Virlyn and An Moku create the perfect ambience for multiple types of backgrounds by incorporating recordings from the lobbies before a jazz concert, reproducing the sounds of hiking through the woods, and waves rushing and crashing – all tied up with a classical harmony and steady drones. Coming from two countries, Belgium and Switzerland, it’s Virlyn and An Moku’s collaboration, ‘Of Mirrors.’”
Ray Jackson, Already Dead Tapes, 2013
Of Mirrors:
Steelyard blues
Secret place
Dance of the creatures
Mirror (Part1)
The room
Frost
Digital bonus track: Mirror (Part2)
Total running time: ca. 60 min
All music composed and produced by Virlyn and AN MOKU
Mixing and mastering by Virlyn
Electronics by Virlyn
Electronics, instrumental and field recordings by AN MOKU
All instrumental and field recordings captured in Switzerland and Iceland
Ending of ‘Frost’ captured during an orchestral warm up session at Harpa, Reykjavik
Swiss Performers:
Piano by Cornellia Stromeyer
Violin by Orina Zänerle
Cello by Jacki Knöpfel
Modified vocal sample taken from -The Seventh Seal- by Bergman, 1957
Photography:
Dominik Grenzler
Design:
Pan Pan/Joshua Tabbia
‘Of Mirrors’ has been recorded from november 2011 until march 2012.
After finishing it, we kept this album in our secret place until today.
Thank you for supporting us. Enjoy the tape!
An Moku 