Vanity Mirror features the multi-talented Brent Randall (Gentle Brent, Electric Looking Glass) and Johnny Toomey (The Turns, Electric Looking Glass). Today, the duo release their debut LP PUFF. Below you can read my thoughts on this (spoiler alert) Psych Pop masterpiece. But first, let me direct your attention to the band’s latest video which we are honored to premiere here at Add To Wantlist. The black-and-white video is for the quietest song from PUFF, the heartbreakingly gorgeous Somehow You Know. It was directed by Fred Joseph who also worked with the likes of Uni Boys, Triptides and Young Guv. The band explains: “We have been big fans of Fred’s for a long time. He’s a true artist and creates stunning analog TV/film pieces often utilizing period accurate vintage video equipment. He works out of the lovely Savannah Studios and you may have seen his work with many choice West Coast artists as of late. Fred was generous to collaborate with us to create this stunning vignette for Somehow You Know. Filmed with black and white vintage broadcast cameras, the camera floats around the studio on a track capturing us performing the song but also discovering a series of other little surreal and romantic scenes featuring our friends. Almost like a dream sequence or moment of clarity when many interconnected memories flood your mind all at once. And that is really what the song is about, making sense of things without being able to necessarily verbalize it.” [post continues below video]
If you like the video and song, I have good news. The LP offers nine additional timeless psych pop nuggets. PUFF is ear candy in its purest form and will create goosebumps among fans of ’60s psych pop (Zombies) and ’70s pop/rock (Badfinger, Emitt Rhodes, Raspberries). If you have time to listen to just one song from this LP, I’d recommend Girl Feeding A Swan. It is a song where the songwriting and musical talent of Vanity Mirror is firing at all cylinders. It’s a perfect example of how Vanity Mirror build and execute their songs meticulously, and the layered instrumentation is a joy to unpack. It is just one of several highlights on PUFF, a nostalgic record that sounds so authentically ’70s that it escapes any cynicism or accusations of being faux retro.
PUFF is out today at We Are Busy Bodies. It’s a record I can see myself returning to a lot this year.