Fractal Mirror: Returning to their progressive rock roots…..

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Says, «Fractal Mirror is a Dutch/American pop/rock/prog/80’s indie band. We have released an EP and four full length albums so far».

Beyond Borders is the new album from Fractal Mirror – released by Bad Elephant Music on 15th October 2021.

Beyond Borders sees Fractal Mirror returning to their progressive rock roots, with the seventeen-minute epic ‘Ashes’ in particular displaying all the hallmarks of a classic prog epic, though the more song-oriented stylings of previous album Close To Vapour are still very much in evidence in the band’s sound. The core lineup of Leo Koperdraat and Frank Urbaniak is bolstered by the return of founder member Ed Van Haagen on bass, with new boy Gareth Cole (Tom Slatter Band, The Rube Goldberg Machine, One Sided Horse, Whitewater) adding his characteristic guitar talents to his first Fractal Mirror album.

    Beyond

    Ashes

    Slip Away

    Shadow Man

    Kingdom of the Lost

    Borders

Leo Koperdraat – voice, Mellotron 4000d, keyboards

Gareth Cole – guitars, background vocals

Ed van Haagen – bass, additional vocals

Frank Urbaniak – drums, lyrics, voice on Ashes intro

Brett Kull – background vocal, good advice

 All music written and produced by Fractal Mirror, but the mixing duty was done by Brett Kyll ( Echlyn) and mastering by Larry Fast known for his work with Peter Gabriel, Foreigner, Nektar, Bonnie Tyler og Hall & Oates.

Fractal Mirror came into existence in 2013 when Leo Koperdraat (keyboards, vocals), Ed van Haagen (bass) and Frank Urbaniak (drums, lyrics) discovered each other’s demo recordings posted on online music forums. All three had been involved in the progressive music scene in their home countries (The Netherlands and the USA) for many years, with Frank Urbaniak having been part of Essence with Larry Fast, who later formed Synergy and worked with Peter Gabriel.

The band’s music represents a multitude of progressive, pop, rock and indie influences, having drawn comparisons to David Bowie, Tears for Fears, R.E.M. Psychedelic Furs, Blackfield and No-Man. Their debut album, Strange Attractors, gained positive reviews, with follow up Garden of Ghosts, making the shortlist for a Grammy award nomination. By third album Slow Burn 1 the band had secured the talents of Brett Kull (Echolyn) as producer, and to add additional musical embellishments. Their next album, Close to Vapour – their first with UK-based gleefully pluralist label Bed Elephant Music – was released in 2018 and introduced a wider range of pop influences, such as The Grays, Jellyfish and Pugwash, with a greater emphasis on lush vocal harmonies.

Their new album, Close to Vapour, introduces further influences from the likes of The Grays, Jellyfish, Pugwash and Beck. Lush vocal harmonies abound, with perhaps a rougher musical edge being introduced, all without losing the characteristic Fractal Mirror sound. Close To Vapour will be released by Bad Elephant Music in the first quarter of 2018.

2021 sees the start the next chapter for Fractal Mirror, with Gareth Cole adding a new dimension to the sound with his eclectic guitar work. The new album, Beyond Borders, builds on the feel of Close to Vapour, with progressive influences once more to the fore, and a particular emphasis on Leo’s Mellotron 4000. Beyond Borders will be released in October 2021, on Bad Elephant Music.

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