The Mirror Conspiracy

The Mirror Conspiracy is een ensemble dat filmische crossovers maakt van jazz, progressieve rock en triphop. Composities zijn gestructureerd maar toch vrij en elastisch. TMC is met haar eigenzinnig geluid en bijzondere live projecten genomineerd voor een Edison Publieksprijs in 2010.

[EN; bron www.themirrorconspiracy.com]
In the autumn of 2007 good old friends carefully started rehearsing amongst the twilight of Rotterdam (NL) after a couple of years holding their musical... Meer »

The Mirror Conspiracy is een ensemble dat filmische crossovers maakt van jazz, progressieve rock en triphop. Composities zijn gestructureerd maar toch vrij en elastisch. TMC is met haar eigenzinnig geluid en bijzondere live projecten genomineerd voor een Edison Publieksprijs in 2010.

[EN; bron www.themirrorconspiracy.com]
In the autumn of 2007 good old friends carefully started rehearsing amongst the twilight of Rotterdam (NL) after a couple of years holding their musical silence. They played together in Hyphen, a psychedelic postrock band from the nineties. They were up for new brew. After various sessions with different wonderful musicians, the outlines became clear. Mike Bindraban plays on red and dark blue sounding keys, Nikos Paisopoulos plays his bass loosy goosy and Patrick Verdonk plays various guitars. Together the TMC sound was born, joined by Esther Vroegindeweij on electric and acoustic violin and the subtle Martijn Groen on drums. Early 2008 the band released their first (instrumental) recording called 'Live at Lantaren/Venster' improvising music for the documentary-film Microcosmos (1996). The EP was received with acclaimed confusion. Is it a conspiracy? A black and white film perhaps? In 2010 the band completed their sound with guitarist Angelo Franzen, cooking up new brew the future beholds. Compositions are rooted in solid sketches with added colors, abstract storylines in free and arranged layers with a subtle but solid base.

TMC uniquely invited various renown artists, with different disciplines, from all over the world for their liveshows. An interaction in culture and music, with a good sense of adventure, capturing unique moments.They have collaborated with vocalists from the UK (MC Xander, Eska Mtungwazi) and USA (Shariff Simmons, Baba Israel), Australia (Morganics), and worldclass trumpetplayers from France (Erik Truffaz) and Japan (Toshinori Kondo). These wonderous adventures led to first thoughts on recording the TMC sound in the studio.

Exploring various possibilities the band decided to record their first studio album in the early winter of 2009. It was called Mozaic. The album is a blueprint of a mosaic of musical styles and musical personalities of different cultures combined to one collective sound, that can't be labelled. The album was recorded in three live sessions. In this process the band invited soprano saxophonist Ghasem Batamuntu (USA), who joined the band for live shows. Since then this multi-instrumentalist has been a member of TMC. Daisy Cools co-arranged three compositions on the album, adding beautiful vocals to originally instrumental tracks. With Mozaic, the band portrays a unique crossover of lounge-noir, triphop, jazz and progressive rock, also featuring a remix by Arts The Beatdocotor. The full length album was produced by Gertjan Koning and Mike Bindraban and released in February 2010, after signing up with the dutch label Dying Giraffe Recordings (Munich/V2). They released their record with a stunning show at a sold-out Paradiso Amsterdam. The album was received with critical acclaim, enriching the Dutch music scene with their idiosyncratic sound. National and intermational press have compared the sound of TMC with Weather Report, Cinematic Orchestra and Soft Machine. In the spring of 2010, Mozaic even got nominated for the prestigious Dutch Jazz Grammy for best album (Edison Pubieksprijs Jazz/World) for 2010. TMC toured The Netherlands in two special series of concerts: the Spring Sessions and the Autumn Sessions, playing at large international world/jazz festivals (26th MusicMeeting, Pure Jazz, Numoonfest, Dunya, Festival Jazz International) and larger jazz and pop clubs.

2011... and the band seeks new adventures. Collective creative energy advances in making new compositions and breaching boundries in the live-concept.
Challenging collaborations and projects. In March of this year, the band worked on composing a special set for a full seated concert at the classical Concerthall De Doelen, together with Arts The Beatdoctor. The spring brought new recordings in Studio SanteBoutique in Rotterdam, which has a kindred as TMC's rehearsalroom Continental Chilling Agencies, amidst the the spaces and bustle of the large port. Recording five new tracks before the summer, the band is currently back to the drawing board. Diligently working on new compositions and on special series of live shows starting in October. Check the 'Home' section or TMC's facebook page to get the latest updates! Searching new forms, the new titles are getting polished for a second album planned for 2012. The album will be called 'Carrousel'. A symbol of contemporay infinity.

The Mirror Conspiracy (TMC):
Mike Bindraban - fender rhodes, korg sv1 en piano
Nikos Paisopoulos - fretloze bass
Patrick Verdonk - elektrisch gitaar, ebow en sampler
Angelo Franzen - elektrisch gitaar
Esther Vroegindeweij- viool
Martijn Groen - drums
Ghasem Batamuntu - sopraan sax, bass clarinet, dwarsfluit en percussie

Discography:
*Album MOZAIC (2010, Dying Giraffe - Munich/V2)
*EP Live at Lantaren/Venster (TMC, 2008) « Minder