The Mirror Conspiracy

Thievery Corporation

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 22, 2000)
• Original Release Date: August 22, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Eighteenth Street
• ASIN: B00004WFIZ
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (136 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,899 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Washington, D.C.'s Thievery Corporation purvey a very mellow, deliberately international mixture of sounds that might be called "lounge music"--not in the kitschy sense, but in the sense of a laid-back local bar (much like the one the duo happens to run) with no dance floor. Rob Garza and Eric Hilton are professed admirers of Brazilian music, and they're determined to inject as much warmth into electronic music as possible. The Mirror Conspiracy is quite a musical travelogue, starting in Jamaica with "Treasures." This dubby opening track, which features vocalist Brother Jack, is quite reminiscent of the start of Swayzak's Himawari. Next up is "Le Monde," a quiet, wah-wah-inflected song featuring a chanteuse named Lou Lou. She reappears later on the somewhat more uptempo "Shadows of Ourselves," which, despite the title, is also sung in French. "The Hong Kong Triad" sounds like a tip of the hat to Shaft-styled soundtrack music. Elsewhere, it's off to India for two sitar-flavored tracks with a similarly laidback groove that gets a bit closer to techno, one of which, "Lebanese Blonde" (hash? a woman?), has been released as a single. Brazil gets its due on the densely percussive "Air Batucada," the more bossa nova-like "So Com Voce," and an instrumental titled "Samba Tranquille." Fans of this style are sure to be pleased. --Bob Bannister

Product Description

2000 release for the extremely talented and unsung DJ duo. An amalgamation of reggae dubplates, lounge muzak, breaks, beats and bossanova. 2000 release. Standard jewel case with slipcase.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

110 of 122 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Continental Groovey Lounge Music For the Modern Man or Woman, August 22, 2000

By	Jake Mitchell (Cleveland, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

Mirror Conspiracy is the latest international down-tempo musical offering from "Thievery Corporation" otherwise known as the dj/production team of Rob Garza and Eric Hilton. Like their earlier releases; "Sounds From The Thievery Hi-Fi" and the inspiring "DJ Kicks", the duo presents a sexy collection of international beats seasoned with an array of jazz, easy listening, lounge, bossa nova, samba, sound track samples and more. Tropical beats and Afro Brazilian rhythms drive the overall late night groove. "La Monde" is a seductive slice of loveliness mixing breathy French vocals with a distinctive Jamaican dub. "Lebanese Blonde" a mysteriously international spy film soundtrack peppered with Baleric beats. "Samba Tranquille" a bit of breezy tropical turntabalism. "Illumination" easily the standout builds hypnotically with its driving indo-pyschedelic drum beats and mysterious middle eastern chanting. These are djs as mixologists, interpreters of world beats, tour guides to a jet setting audio travelogue sampling global styles, genres, cultures and languages. Hip modern day exotica for the modern world. A Must BUY for hip cats!

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You're in a dimly lit lounge. The mood is hip and cool..., December 12, 2004

By	Tom B "handydandy" (Westport, CT USA) - See all my reviews

...and the music throbs slowly but insistently, snatches of melody drawing you in, the beat stimulating but relaxing at the same time. The crowd is young and bright and full of life, smiling and weaving around each other, heads tilting back with easy, cool laughter. Welcome to the Mirror Conspiracy, your ticket to another room, a spacious mood, a place where cares do not exist and pleasure is abundant. The ocean of beats and sounds washes across the shores of your mind, gently hypnotizing away the craggy realities that soon seem many miles behind you. Too good to be true? Not in this case. I've been through at least a hundred so-called chillout albums and discovered, as you by now have, that most of them are bland, same-sounding pap, boring, mealy sonic filler. With today's electronic gear it's all too easy to make wooshy sounds. Any fool can pull the trigger, but it's very hard to get it right. As in all musical genres, only about ten percent of artists are really gifted, let alone brilliant. These guys very much are, at least on this disc. You'll get that spacious feeling, the warmth of the strong but mellow beat, and actual musical artistry. Subtle variations ease you imperceptibly from one track to another without losing interest. This album is a rare gem. It can be played in almost any setting, and will win over non-techno people. If you have any desire whatsoever for that elusive bird called "chillout music," this disc is absolutely essential for your playlist. Money well spent. Enjoy.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The 'Must Have' Album for Thievery Corporation, August 31, 2003

By	Matthew Huntley (Central California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If one was to embark on a university program majoring in these guys, The Mirror Conspiracy would almost certainly be Thievery Corporation 101. It was The Mirror Conspiracy that first exposed me to Thievery Corporation, and it's largely due to this album that I subsequently purchased every other album the group has produced.

For nearly 6 months, this album was constantly present in my stereo as I drove, or on deck waiting to be played next. I don't live in a big city, but after just a few minutes of songs like Le Monde, I could imagine I was driving through the streets of New York or Paris at night. I must admit that many of my music choices are based on their value as driving music, as that's where I do most of my listening, and much of this album is perfect for the job.