Fans of producer and
Lightning Seeds frontman
Ian Broudie might eye the self-titled debut from
Original Mirrors with raised expectations. They will quickly be disappointed once they hear the album's dated power pop grooves. Released in 1980,
Original Mirrors features Broudie on guitar, but there's not even a trace of Broudie's incandescent new wave pop with Care and the Wild Swans. In fact, if Broudie's name wasn't in the credits, nobody would be able to guess his involvement. The first track, "Sharp Words," is lightweight neo-psychedelic rock that approximates
the Teardrop Explodes' '60s feel, however, vocalist
Steve Allen lacks range and personality. The blandness of Allen's voice prevents any of the songs from catching fire; then again, the repetitive lyrics of tracks like "The Boys the Boys" doesn't help, either. Broudie's affection for Motown probably inspired the cover of
the Supremes' "Reflections"; unfortunately, it is embarrassingly flat. Although the LP is upbeat and energetic, the songs are rather forgettable. Collectors of
Ian Broudie's work might be tempted to track down
Original Mirrors in used vinyl shops; they should search for unopened copies because there isn't much on the LP worth hearing.
Original Mirrors isn't a disaster; it's merely a small first blemish in Broudie's otherwise star-studded resume.