An intoxicating, immersive array of exceptional musicality...
02 · 10 · 2025
Kelly Moran’s extraordinary talent resonates through a collection of innovative albums, utilizing her prepared piano techniques to evoke both euphoric techno transformations and powerful metal sounds with equal prowess. A vivid and often stunning composer, her captivating work reaches new heights in ‘Don’t Trust Mirrors’, a confident creation filled with compelling ideas.
The arpeggiated rhythms that begin ‘Echo In The Field’ envelop you in the atmosphere of a techno rave, where streams of sound merge and then disrupt. The crashing chords that penetrate these serene sections possess a rock-like heaviness that her instrument is not typically tasked with producing. It’s a courageous introductory statement, subtly moving in its patient expressions of beauty.
This piece establishes the album's overarching mood. There is a searching essence in Kelly Moran’s music, which infuses ‘Don’t Trust Mirrors’ with a profound sense of energy. ‘Prism Drift’ is characterized by sharp contours and percussive ticks, while the church bell tones of ‘Sans Sodalis’ unfold into something genuinely poignant.
‘Lunar Wave’ and ‘Chrysalis’ serve as powerful examples of audio world-building, with Moran’s artistic approach allowing each note to fulfill its purpose. There’s a palpable drama in these performances, reflecting an artist striving to explore new depths. Transformative and often stirring, tracks like ‘Above The Vapours’ possess a perfume-like quality, an enthralling formlessness that emanates from the speakers.
‘Don’t Trust Mirrors’ features Warp labelmate Bibio, and the track balances two spirits driven by curiosity. Despite its intellectual aspects, ‘Don’t Trust Mirrors’ often exudes a playful element—‘Systems’ flows like a tinkling waterfall of sound, while the closing track, ‘Cathedral’, offers a space for solitude, re-characterizing Kelly Moran as an avant-garde anchorite.
An artist in a creative surge, this marks Kelly Moran’s second full-length project in 18 months. While some peers may experience a decline in quality, the American pianist has intensified her efforts, redefining her creative limits in the process. A mesmerizing experience, ‘Don’t Trust Mirrors’ is an album to get lost in.
8/10
Words: Robin Murray
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Kelly Moran’s extraordinary artistry is evident in a collection of innovative albums, where her use of prepared piano techniques enables her to create intoxicating,
