Syrinx Call – Mirror Neuron
Wow! I remember requesting the demo for Mirror Neuron, from Syrinx Call, a while back. Then, suddenly there it was in my e-mail. This is an enormously engrossing and epic piece of music. It will rank high on my list of albums of the year. Mirror Neuron, was released January 29th, 2021, on Flat Earth Music. Syrinx Call is based out of Düsseldorf, Germany.
The band is made up of: Volker Kuinke, on alto, soprano, sopranino, tenor, bass, and great bass recorder, as well as vocals on track 8; Jens Lueck, on lead and backing vocals, acoustic lead guitar on track 12, keyboards, piano, drums, percussion and programming; Isgaard, on lead vocals on tracks 2, 5, 8, 11, 12 and 13, as well as backing vocals; Doris Packbiers, on lead vocals on tracks 2, 5, and 10, and backing vocals; Hannes Arkona, on electric guitar on tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 13 and 14, acoustic lead guitar on track 4, acoustic guitar and keyboards on track 14; Frank Bornemann, on electric lead guitar on track 10; Katja Flintsch, on violin on tracks 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8, viola on track 8; Shaun Geraghty, voice on track 7; Georg Kresimon, bass on track 6; Monika Lewis, voice on track 8; Klaus-Peter Matziol, bass on tracks 2 and 10; Nabis Nikou, on electric guitar and laouto on track 12; Jürgen Osuchowski, on classical guitar on tracks 1, 4, 5, 8 and 13, also western and 12-string guitar on tracks 4, 8 and 13; Jan Petersen, on electric guitar on tracks 1, 2, 8 and 13; Kai Ritter, on voice for track 7;Annika Stolze, on violoncello on tracks 2, 3, 7 and 8; and John Turner, on voice on tracks 7.
A mirror neuron “is a neuron that fires both when an animal acts and when the animal observes the same action performed by another. Thus, the neuron “mirrors” the behavior of the other, as though the observer were itself acting”.
This album is of a perfect quality only achieved after years of toil, making every sound fit well in its place. Put your headphones on and enjoy every note.
My favorite tracks were: the opener, “Bit by Bit”, with its big and bold brilliant piano, followed by the soft sound of recorder.
“Deceptive Illusion”, opens with guitar and recorder, surrounded with spacey keys, refined bass and drums. The female vocal refrain of the word ‘humans’ is so emotional and tender.
“The Arctic Will Die”, is the epic masterpiece on this album. It is now one of my favorite songs of the year. It takes me back to the emotional power Midnight Oil brought to “Antarctica”. The despondent and plodding sound of woodwinds and strings is the perfect setting for this profound song. Then, a female solo vocal, not unlike Pink Floyd’s “The Great Gig”, and this song is then taken to an even higher level of mastery.
Jens Lueck does a sincere job of vocalizing emotion throughout this album. And Volker Kuinke’s assemblage of recorders does a wonderful job of making this entire album sound Baroque and classical.
“Perfect Shine”, is especially haunting and classic sounding with recorder, strings and soft played acoustic guitar. Isgaard and Doris Packbiers share lead vocals bringing even more power to this sad song. They sing together, “See me, feel me”, and it almost takes you back to Tommy.
Isgaard and Doris Packbiers’s vocals are heard throughout this masterpiece and their voices lend magic and significance to every track.
The album is mostly instrumental work of the highest caliber. Though progressive rock is the dominant genre; on songs like “Merging Influences”, many different styles of music are present throughout.
There is a machine vs man theme to the entire album, and so songs like “Big Data”, use ‘Hal-like’ robot vocalization. to show the fallacy of digital superiority over flesh and bone. Kai Ritter sings a beautiful solo to close the song.
Isgaard’s voice is wonderful on “Weird Resonance”.
“One Step Beyond”, is another wonderful song.
The title track, “Mirror Neuron”, is full of Volker Kuinke’s best recorder sounds on the album. The guitar solo work is absolutely stunning.
“I’m Gonna Buy Some Flowers”, is another of the best songs on the album. The blistering guitar solos, keyboards, instrumentation and orchestration take this song over the top.
“Sweetness”, is an instrumental song full of Volker Kuinke’s recorders and Isgaard’s beautiful vocals. The soft guitar solos are a reflection of sweetness indeed.
Mirror Neuron is not an album of hits. It is an album of atmospheric wonders. Each song blends into the next and highlights the overall work. The songs are separate short journeys, of a lifetime, on an epic pilgrimage. To deliver music that displaces you, and takes you away from the present tense, if for only a while. It allows you to immerse yourself in something beyond yourself. Yes, “One Step Beyond”.
Get this album and forget today, and drift into a sea of aural emotion. Every moment a picturesque vision of an epic progressive rock past, taken further into the future.
Track List
- Bit by Bit – 5:29
- Deceptive Illusion – 4:59
- The Arctic Will Die – 4:19
- Breakdown – 6:13
- Perfect Shine – 3:13
- Merging Influences – 4:18
- Big Data – 2:20
- Weird Resonance – 5:46
- One Step Beyond – 1:29
- Mirror Neuron – 4:07
- I’m Gonna Buy Some Flowers – 7:27
- Sweetness – 4:41
- The Silence – 6:42
- Silence Echoes – 1:16
Mirror Neuron was recorded at Art of Music Studio, (Garlstorf); and the sound-engineer and producer is Jens Lueck.
The cover art is amazing!
https://syrinxcall.bandcamp.com/album/mirrorneuron