Salt Mirror and Golden Cage Reviewed
Salt Mirror – See You Someday
The way that a band used to be introduced used to include the group’s name, the single it was promoting and the place the band was from. It was a necessity. And, of course, everything that did not belong to the Anglo-American pop conglomerate was viewed as an eccentricity. A German band that plays rockabilly? Who knew! A French duo leaning into dirty, bluesy garage rock? Takes all sorts!
Geographical location is no longer much of a concern. But can you still hear it in the music? You might! Consider, for example, the fact that Salt Mirror’s extremely competent 2000s-inspired alt-rock is made in the beautiful, but often turbulent nation of Serbia. Consider the fact that most non-Anglo-American musicians aren’t just making music. They’re building a world through sound because, frankly, they need to.
These are things worth taking into consideration, sure. But they should only work to enhance your enjoyment of “See You Someday.” It’s not even the band’s determination to recreate 2000s sounds that is impressive. What is most interesting is the group’s attention to detail, the soft touch over a hard-edged sound, the well-balanced production. What does this take? Is only craftsmanship that matters? No, it’s more than that. Start living in Eastern Europe for enough time, and you’ll know it, too. Art of this kind is a veritable silent protest and an ever-fought battle.
Golden Cage – The Crossing
If you’re one of the few who has remained connected to the messages broadcast by the once-upon-a-time influential news organisation on their Culture web pages, you’ll know that pop music is struggling, the famous songwriters are complaining, and that rock music might be dead. But can you really trust that? Everywhere you go, people are tapping the beat for the music they hear in their headphones.
And if you do stop to ask what is that’s thrilling them so, most of the time they’ll surprise. A good chunk of them, perhaps the majority, are listening to contemporary, obscure bands. And, best of all, when in embarrassment you ask to listen yourself, you can’t help but notice how well many of these groups sound.
Golden Cage is a wonderful-sounding group. No, they’re not part of the music industry and aren’t fussed about making inroads into it. Instead, they’re taking advantage of the time that they have and of the advancement in technology and musical gear quality. “Crossing,” a song about dreaming of sweet relief from life’s pressures, is a strong, hard-rocking DIY effort that, well, makes you wonder what’s the point in having all those music labels and well-known news stations telling you what’s worth tuning into anymore.
