Another compilation of appealing songs from Faceless Mirror which are subtly thought provoking and again showcase their musical prowess.

Release Date: 13th September 2025

Label: Independent

Format: digital streaming

SOLID AND TUNEFUL

We’ve been privileged to receive previews of two singles in recent months and now we enjoy a look at their latest album which include those singles. One of the singles, Any Way The Wind Blows, opens the album. Musically it has all the elements we expect from Faceless Mirror: a solid rhythm and backbeat, Dean Macaw’s tuneful guitar fills, a catchy refrain and a relevant moral personal issue exuding appropriate sentiment and honesty.

The album features main members Dave Cavanagh , Dean Macaw (both contributing on vocals and guitars), John Derek Armistead, percussion and Michael Hunt on bass as well as an array of guests who each adeptly bring their own special qualities to this emotional album which has many reflections, good and bad on the past but always retains that sense of hope.

Freedom River sways from the melancholic into rockier moves, giving us a hint of the versatility in the song writing and playing, which we witness through the whole album. Their debut album was evidence of their expertise but they have developed into a more band with a compact sound having several strings to their bow. Don’t Try To Talk To Me About It has a Lennon cum Stones feel about; definitely rooted in the 60’s an infectious refrain to join in with and a guitar solo begging for some solid air-guitar!

JOURNEY HOME REVISITED

A familiar tune from the debut album is the title track Journey Home, given a lovely remix the guitars being more prominent with different ringing tones. It seems to have a heavier live feel about it too. Harmonica and Duanne Eddy style deep guitar begins Billy Come Home. A cowboy – travelling widow yearns for the return of her missed partner begging him to settle down to family life.

The slightly distorted vocals of the ballad Through My Eyes has yearning of a different quality with Dean’s simple but effective guitar work coming to the fore and striking even when mixed into the background. Things get heavier and bit more Beatle-y psychedelic for No One Listening with some tricky time signatures for the percussion to deal with, which is managed well.

Matters then calm down considerably with Dave appealing with Waiting Arms. A distant piano precludes a guitar solo. It wouldn’t be a Faceless Mirror without Dean giving us his Gilmour impression and he duly obliges here. Although the original version of the song was written in the early 70’s by brothers Dave and John Cavanagh the new end result has retained its freshness and of course its strong relevance.

CATHARTIC

Music can be as cathartic for the listener as well as the writer. In this case the writing credit for Faceless Mirror’s latest single release goes to their talented guitarist Dean Macaw. Family tragedy and domestic trauma form the basis of this dark and deeply emotional song which is heavier in dynamic to the usual Dave Cavanagh style song.

Dean’s song of loss and abuse is expressed honestly and with sensitivity. With another Gilmourish solo oozing with pain and anguish, the savage beauty leaves you soothed as it provides a release to the torment as it was intended to do for the composer.

KELLY GANG RE-EMERGE

We are offered a rare treat when Dave and Dean delve into their time as part of The Kelly Gang with a new take of Walk Some Other Time, which blends perfectly with more recent compositions. The sound is pared right down to simple acoustics and as the title suggests Summer Storm a calmer atmosphere ensues, its tranquility leaving us comfortably warm not numb.

Here’s Waiting Arms:

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