Space Mirror

Detroit-area drone-rock supergroup Infinite River came together during the initial COVID-19 lockdown, and the first fruit of their endless series of improv sessions was the debut LP Prequel, which arrived in March of 2023. Space Mirror, issued five months after the debut, shifts the sprawling glide of the first album into a much mellower and more meditative state. Joey Mazzola and Gretchen Gonzales duet on guitar, mapping out cosmic trails and dotting them with gentle pulsations. Their playing is sparse but controlled, always fluidly moving and interacting. Theres somewhat of an ambient Americana thing going on here, like theyre painting aural constellations in the desert sky using swooping slide guitars and a more melodic lead. While its all peaceful and devoid of melodrama, there are elements that feel a shade more melancholy than others, like the weeping guitar melodies on the fifth track. Behind all of this, Warren Defever creates a steady, consistent drone using harmonium and tanpura, keeping everything harmonically balanced and focused. Drummer Steve Nistor seems nearly absent on this record, but he does contribute swelling cymbals and very faint percussive murmurs that melt into the soundscapes and might not register if one isnt listening closely enough. His presence played a bigger role on the first record, which seemed to have a wider sonic range than this one -- there are no moments on Space Mirror that could be likened to shoegaze or exotica. Instead, Space Mirror focuses on a more relaxed state in order to help clear ones mind. Its like the part of the river thats calm and easy to wade in; stay in the stream and eventually youll come to busier, rockier currents and maybe a majestic waterfall. ~ Paul Simpson