It has been a head-spinning couple of months for Miracle. The new LDN/NYC synth-pop duo comprising singer Daniel OSullivan and synth overlord Steve Moore have released their debut EP on House Anxiety (The Big Pink, Zoo Kid etc) to fevered critical acclaim, notably wowing the likes of WIRE, NME, Dazed And Confused and Pitchfork in rare, uniting form. They then made their live debut with a series of shows with likeminds Darkstar and Blondes, before premiering their stunning debut video for the EPs leviathan lead track >The Visitor<, in the US via Pitchfork and then in Europe via Dazed. Now to tie a ribbon around this meteoric first chapter, they are releasing a limited edition double 12-inch vinyl EP, collecting together on physical release for the first time the comprehensive, dazzling selection of mixes and reworkings that >The Visitor< was treated to.
The EP features a lofty and inspiring selection of names including techno legend The Field with a blissful 10-minute ambient epic, the visionary electronic auteur Fennesz with a slinky, fluttering gem, post-dubstep dame Ikonika with a driving dancefloor frenzy, hotly-tipped San Fran acid-freestyle guru Adeptus with a "slow'n'sensual hip hop mix", and now exclusively only to the vinyl release, a throbbing house remix from cult Norwegian avant-metal titans Ulver, of whom Daniel of course shares ranks. All this as well as the original version and an exclusive inclusion of the airwave scorching radio mix make this an unmissable celebration of a genuine modern synth-pop anthem. Although some of these mixes have surfaced in digital form via sites like Fader, XLR8R, Discobelle and Pitchfork, this will be the only chance to own them in physical form, limited to a strict collectors edition of 500 copies...
If you're new to Miracle's world, here's a recap of their story so far: Steve lives in NYC. Daniel lives in London. It's an ethereal relationship that has now become very real. Between its two halves Miracle share an illustrious resume of legendary bands within the drone, prog and doom spheres, including Sunn0))), Guapo, Ulver and Aethenor (Daniel), and Zombi, Titan and Lovelock (Steve).
But Miracle is more than the sum of its parts. As darkly psychedelic as one might anticipate but closer, by a long way, to pure pop music than the two have ever encountered before. It was never discussed. it just happened. The music of Miracle is an apparition, a leap of faith, an inexplicable birth.
As O'Sullivan whispers in 'The Visitor', "You can't see them because your eyes are adjusting". Dreamy vocal arrangements melt into a myriad of harmony over a driving, tranced-out ascension of arpeggiating synths. Heavy, woozy beats and detailed programming bind their two worlds. It's all brought into even more sparkling dimensions on their debut EP 'Fluid Window' with the addition of Dave Cooley, the master-board-wizard behind the likes of J Dilla and Flying Lotus. Whilst refusing to be timestamped, there is a perpetual forward movement to Miracle recalling elements of minimal techno and 70s kosmische, although O'Sullivan's distinctive croon leans into lush 80s pop territory.
Machine music has never sounded so human.