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The Mirror Trap

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The Mirror Trap
OriginDundee, Scotland, United Kingdom
GenresIndie rock
Years active2009–2018
Members
  • Gary "The Panther" Moore
  • Michael "John" McFarlane
  • Paul Markie

The Mirror Trap were an alternative indie rock band from Dundee, Scotland. The band consisted of Gary 'The Panther' Moore on vocals, Michael 'John' McFarlane and Paul Markie on guitars, Paul 'Drums' Reilly on drums and Ben Doherty on bass. They were sometimes joined by Scott Duffy on additional percussion and vocals.

The band's releases include 2014's Stay Young and 2016's Simulations. They supported fellow Dundee band The View and toured Russia with Placebo in the summer of 2014 and spring 2015. They supported Placebo during some of the concerts on their 20 years of Placebo tour.

In 2018 The Mirror Trap disbanded with some members going on to form Echo Machine.

History

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The band formed while studying music at Dundee College in 2009 and quickly made a name for themselves in support slots with The View.[1] They recorded their first album The Last Great Melodrama in 2011 and the EP The Visible Hand followed in 2012.[2] During this period they recorded a live session for the BBC with Vic Galloway.[3] They also played the T Break Stage at T in the Park 2012.[4] Former Dundee FC footballer and promoter Lee Wilkie spotted the band's talent and introduced them to Dave McLean of Riverman Management. The two began to co-manage the band through Riverman Management who also represent Placebo.[citation needed] Wilkie and Mclean brought the Mirror Trap to the attention of Placebo and the band supported them at the HMV Picture House, Edinburgh on 25 April 2012.[5] In 2013 Brian Molko attended one of their small gigs at Non-Zero's on Dundee's Castle Street.[6] Placebo were impressed with the band's performance and invited them to join them as support at a charity performance in Leeds on 8 November 2013.[7] By the time the band recorded and released their second album, Stay Young they were offered the chance to support Placebo on a tour of Russia in the summer of 2014.[8] The tour covered 8 venues in 13 days and the band invited Scott Duffy to join them, providing additional percussion and vocals.[9] The tour included a performance for 3000 fans at Krasnodar's Ice Palace.[10] The band became an overnight success in Russia, provoking an outpouring of excitement and fan art on social media.[11] In September 2014 Placebo announced that The Mirror Trap would be joining them at the 2014 iTunes Festival, performing at London's Roundhouse in Camden Town.[12] The release of their 2016 album Simulations saw the band take up slots at the Summer Sonic Festival in Japan and the Y Not Festival in England.

The Last Great Melodrama (2011)

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The Last Great Melodrama was released on 21 November 2011.[13] Singles taken from the 11-track album included 'My Alabama' for which the band released an accompanying video on 14 October 2011.[14]

The Visible Hand (2012)

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The Visible Hand was launched at the Doghouse, Dundee on 9 November 2012. To launch the record The Mirror Trap made plaster casts of hands with the index fingers painted black and distributed them around Dundee.[15] The four-track EP was recorded at Gardyne Studios, Dundee and included 'Future Lionheart' which would also appear on Stay Young.[16]

Stay Young (2014)

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Stay Young was released on 24 February 2014.[17] The album was received warmly with reviewers noting the band's passion, charm and resistance to the status quo.[18][19] Artwork for the album was designed by Max Gabbot and Charlie Parsons, graduates of Dundee's Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design.[20] The band made videos for several of the singles from the album including 'Killing Time', 'Westminster Ghost Story' and 'Bell Street'.

Silent Men (2015)

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Silent Men is an EP released on 16 February 2015 featuring artwork from Dundee artist and Michael McFarlane's sister, Louise McFarlane, also known as 'louloureeed'. The band made a video for its title track, 'Silent Men'.

Simulations (2016)

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Simulations was recorded at Thailand's Karma Sound Studios, which saw the band follow in the footsteps of Enter Shikari, Bullet For My Valentine, The Libertines, and Placebo.[21][22] Videos made for songs featured on Simulations included 'New Trance' which featured scenes from the band's hometown of Dundee and 'Pirhanas', which was directed by Stuart Breadner and noted upon release for its violent imagery.[23] The record was released in May 2016 on Vinyl Junkie Recordings in Japan[24] and Warner Music Group in Russia.[25] Its release date in the UK is 8 July 2016.[26]

References

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  1. ^ Fulton, Rick (23 December 2009). "Exclusive: The View's Dundee homecoming gig turns into old pals act as friends The Mirror Trap land support slot". Daily Record. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  2. ^ Polomoshnova, Olga. "Band of the week: the Mirror Trap". Rock Britain. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  3. ^ "The Mirror Trap – Vic Galloway Session". BBC Radio Scotland. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  4. ^ "T in the Park 2012 off to a fine start". The Courier. 7 July 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  5. ^ "Placebo at HMV Picture House". Last.fm. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  6. ^ Wilson, Alan (15 May 2013). "The Mirror Trap enjoy the Placebo effect after star Brian Molko attends Dundee gig". The Courier. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  7. ^ "Placebo reveal guest supports for Leeds charity show". Placeboworld. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  8. ^ Wilson, Alan (9 June 2014). "Dundee band the Mirror Trap to support Placebo on Russian tour". The Courier. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  9. ^ Dundee, Daisy (8 June 2014). "From Dundee with love: local band tour Russia with Placebo". STV online - guest blog. STV. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  10. ^ "КОНЦЕРТ РОК-ГРУППЫ PLACEBO В КРАСНОДАРЕ СОБРАЛ ТРИ ТЫСЯЧИ ЗРИТЕЛЕЙ". 9tv. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  11. ^ MacPhee, Catriona. "The Mirror Trap become an overnight sensation in Russia after Placebo tour". No. 24 June 2014. STV. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  12. ^ "Placebo". Archived from the original on 15 September 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  13. ^ "The Last Great Melodrama by The Mirror Trap". Bandcamp. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  14. ^ "The Mirror Trap – My Alabama". Youtube. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  15. ^ "Spotlight on….The Mirror Trap". Creative Dundee. 12 November 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  16. ^ Moore, Gary. "THE VISIBLE HAND: Explained-ish.…". The Mirror Trap Blog. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  17. ^ "Stay Young by The Mirror Camp". Bandcamp. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  18. ^ Polomoshnova, Olga. "Featured Album: The Mirror Trap – Stay Young". Rock Britain. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  19. ^ Scott, David P. (20 February 2014). "The Mirror Trap – Stay Young". Is this music?. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  20. ^ Birchenall, Joe (13 March 2014). "The Mirror Trap reflect on their new album and future plans". STV. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  21. ^ Crimaldi, Dave. "Q&A With the Mirror Trap: Massive Glass Shattering Rock". Rock Philosophy. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  22. ^ "About Karma Sound Studios". Karma Sound Studios. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  23. ^ Trendell, Andrew. "Premiere: The Mirror Trap unveil epic video for Pirhanas". Gigwise. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  24. ^ "Vinyl Junkie Recordings » THE MIRROR TRAP | Home". Vinyl Junkie Recordings. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  25. ^ "Dundee band the Mirror Trap head for Eastern promises". Courier. DC Thomson. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  26. ^ Evans, Mikaelie (7 June 2016). "The Mirror Trap: Simulations". The Punk Archive. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
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