sachi's mirror - coral miracle church (Self Release)

Sachi's mirror is Oakland based violinist, vocalist, composer, producer and even art-punk bass player Shaina Pan, who has eschewed the usual classical routes for her favoured bowed instrument in favour of more winding, experimental paths.

Just two tracks into the project, it's early days for Sachi's mirror, but the promise is real. The violin is suitably plugged in and turned on via various effects pedals that send this most classical of instruments into all together more forward looking and far-out territory, rather than safely perpetuating the past like most of her peers.

On "a new shape" - the single opener, subtle beats anchor Pan's looped, loose and lysergic violin textures that only occasionally hint at the submerged sound source, and her low gravity vocals that threaten to float out of auditory range at any time. It's propulsive dreamy pop that refreshing doesn't sound like too much else around.

But hold tight, things get deeper with "coral miracle church". A familiar motif gets the ball rolling as a drone leads the listener to less effected, more recognisable violin sounds, but it's not long before those sounds start spiralling into more cosmic forms, leaping through the speakers and swirling around the room, raising consciousness levels and sending minds to seek universal answers rather than play capitalism's loaded games. It's a cosmic, questioning blend of woman and machine, past and present, real and imagined from this curious, boundary nudging soul, and I'm hopping on the bus for the ride.

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Playlist Companion

Find sachi's mirror in freak friendly company over at the Slow Psyche Playlist.