Making Mirrors is the third studio album by Belgian-born Australian recording artist Gotye. The album was released in Australia on 19 August 2011. In December 2011 it was announced that Making Mirrors was voted Triple J listeners' number-one album of 2011, making Gotye the first artist to win the Triple J album poll twice. It spawned the internationally critically acclaimed hit "Somebody That I Used To Know" which has impacted charts worldwide.
History
In mid-October 2010, Gotye released a single titled "Eyes Wide Open", the first track from the album. The "Eyes Wide Open" single received generally positive reviews and reached #25 in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2010.[2] Eyes Wide Open saw Gotye explore new musical territory, with the main bass line from the song recorded on a fence; "I was out there with my old band called The Basics—and Winton is home to this phenomenal thing called the Winton Musical Fence, which is a large fence made out of metal stings stretched between posts and you can pluck it and play it with all sorts of different materials - it makes these amazing bass sounds so I sampled some bits there in 08 and they made it into the first single I put out off the new record called Eyes Wide Open."[3]
In late March 2010, Gotye revealed the album's title, which was inspired by an artwork de Backer chanced upon which was edited to create the album cover art. He claimed, "The mirror reflects on artwork and it is all very related to self-reflection and introspection on the album."[2] Gotye also revealed that the album would see a release in June or July 2011, with a single to precede the release,[2] along with the fact that the album would be similar to its predecessor in terms of diversity.[2] Gotye went on to reveal that the release of the album was delayed for over five months due to the composition and recording of a single track.[4]
On 19 May 2011, it was announced that the album would be released on 19 August 2011, with the album to be launched the following day at the Sydney Opera House as part of the Graphic Festival, with animators and a ten-piece orchestra as part of Gotye's performance.[5] Gotye was also to issue a follow-up single to "Eyes Wide Open" titled "Somebody That I Used to Know", on 11 July 2011.[5]
Upon the announcement of the track listing, Gotye also revealed that there would be a DVD accompanying the record which would include music videos and documentaries.[6]
However, controversy erupted on 5 July 2011, when the video for the new single, "Somebody That I Used to Know", was leaked online via the Austereo Radio Network's Take 40 website. Later that day, the song was aired for the first time on Triple J with the official stamp of approval from Gotye.[7] Gotye release the single six days early, on 5 July 2011, through iTunes Australia, and his website for international followers.
The song has also reached #1 in the ARIA Singles Chart,[8] and the ARIA Digital Singles Chart[9] and #1 in the ARIA Australian Artists Chart.[10] The song went on to be an international success charting in the top 20 in over 10 countries with 6 of them being at number one, the song also charted in the US and Canada.
As of Friday 4 November, the single has received five times platinum sales and the #1 position on the Australian iTunes store, making it one of the highest-selling singles of 2011.
The album has been certified two times platinum by the ARIA Albums Chart, making it the most successful Australian album of 2011.
"I Feel Better" was released as the third single from the album in Australia on 24 October 2011.[1] The song, however, failed to reach the top 100.
"Easy Way Out" was released in the UK as a promotional single on 3 November 2011.
[edit] Concept and themes
Shortly before its release, Gotye spoke to the ABC about the significance of the artwork, the title, and how it symbolises the creative and introspective process of recording the album; "It's more about reflection - the look at yourself that a mirror offers and also the way it gives you a different perspective on things around you. So I guess I feel a bit analogous to what these songs become to me—you know little ways for me to explore my record collection, explore the world of sound that I'm fascinated by, and also sometimes get a different perspective on memories and emotions I've been mulling over that they find voice in these songs".[3]
Gotye revealed that the second single from the album, "Somebody That I Used to Know", was not lyrically the result of a single break-up. "It wasn't about one specific relationship," explained De Backer in an interview, "but it was definitely drawn from various experiences I've had in relationships breaking up, and in the parts of the more reflective parts of the song, in the after-math and the memory of those different relationships and what they were and how they broke up and what's going on in everyone's minds. Yeah, so it's an amalgam of different feelings but not completely made up as such."[3]
Despite the album's huge success, Gotye revealed in an interview with Rolling Stone Australia that he initially battled with indecision and depression while making the album, which in turn became the subject matter of songs like "Smoke and Mirrors" and "Save Me". He stated: "There were points that I thought I wouldn’t be able to finish a record I was really into or that I’d give up at some stage."[11]
Track listing
No. Title Length
1. "Making Mirrors" 1:01
2. "Easy Way Out" 1:57
3. "Somebody That I Used to Know" (featuring Kimbra) 4:04
4. "Eyes Wide Open" 3:11
5. "Smoke and Mirrors" 5:13
6. "I Feel Better" 3:18
7. "In Your Light" 4:39
8. "State of the Art" 5:22
9. "Don't Worry, We'll Be Watching You" 3:18
10. "Giving Me a Chance" 3:07
11. "Save Me" 3:53
12. "Bronte" 3:18
13. "Dig Your Own Hole" (iTunes bonus track; bonus download from bandtag.com.au as part of the limited edition CD) 4:23
14. "Somebody That I Used to Know - Faux Pas Remix" (iTunes pre-order bonus track) 3:59
15. "Showdown Below My Sombrero" (CD/DVD pre-order bonus track) 2:30
History
In mid-October 2010, Gotye released a single titled "Eyes Wide Open", the first track from the album. The "Eyes Wide Open" single received generally positive reviews and reached #25 in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2010.[2] Eyes Wide Open saw Gotye explore new musical territory, with the main bass line from the song recorded on a fence; "I was out there with my old band called The Basics—and Winton is home to this phenomenal thing called the Winton Musical Fence, which is a large fence made out of metal stings stretched between posts and you can pluck it and play it with all sorts of different materials - it makes these amazing bass sounds so I sampled some bits there in 08 and they made it into the first single I put out off the new record called Eyes Wide Open."[3]
In late March 2010, Gotye revealed the album's title, which was inspired by an artwork de Backer chanced upon which was edited to create the album cover art. He claimed, "The mirror reflects on artwork and it is all very related to self-reflection and introspection on the album."[2] Gotye also revealed that the album would see a release in June or July 2011, with a single to precede the release,[2] along with the fact that the album would be similar to its predecessor in terms of diversity.[2] Gotye went on to reveal that the release of the album was delayed for over five months due to the composition and recording of a single track.[4]
On 19 May 2011, it was announced that the album would be released on 19 August 2011, with the album to be launched the following day at the Sydney Opera House as part of the Graphic Festival, with animators and a ten-piece orchestra as part of Gotye's performance.[5] Gotye was also to issue a follow-up single to "Eyes Wide Open" titled "Somebody That I Used to Know", on 11 July 2011.[5]
Upon the announcement of the track listing, Gotye also revealed that there would be a DVD accompanying the record which would include music videos and documentaries.[6]
However, controversy erupted on 5 July 2011, when the video for the new single, "Somebody That I Used to Know", was leaked online via the Austereo Radio Network's Take 40 website. Later that day, the song was aired for the first time on Triple J with the official stamp of approval from Gotye.[7] Gotye release the single six days early, on 5 July 2011, through iTunes Australia, and his website for international followers.
The song has also reached #1 in the ARIA Singles Chart,[8] and the ARIA Digital Singles Chart[9] and #1 in the ARIA Australian Artists Chart.[10] The song went on to be an international success charting in the top 20 in over 10 countries with 6 of them being at number one, the song also charted in the US and Canada.
As of Friday 4 November, the single has received five times platinum sales and the #1 position on the Australian iTunes store, making it one of the highest-selling singles of 2011.
The album has been certified two times platinum by the ARIA Albums Chart, making it the most successful Australian album of 2011.
"I Feel Better" was released as the third single from the album in Australia on 24 October 2011.[1] The song, however, failed to reach the top 100.
"Easy Way Out" was released in the UK as a promotional single on 3 November 2011.
[edit] Concept and themes
Shortly before its release, Gotye spoke to the ABC about the significance of the artwork, the title, and how it symbolises the creative and introspective process of recording the album; "It's more about reflection - the look at yourself that a mirror offers and also the way it gives you a different perspective on things around you. So I guess I feel a bit analogous to what these songs become to me—you know little ways for me to explore my record collection, explore the world of sound that I'm fascinated by, and also sometimes get a different perspective on memories and emotions I've been mulling over that they find voice in these songs".[3]
Gotye revealed that the second single from the album, "Somebody That I Used to Know", was not lyrically the result of a single break-up. "It wasn't about one specific relationship," explained De Backer in an interview, "but it was definitely drawn from various experiences I've had in relationships breaking up, and in the parts of the more reflective parts of the song, in the after-math and the memory of those different relationships and what they were and how they broke up and what's going on in everyone's minds. Yeah, so it's an amalgam of different feelings but not completely made up as such."[3]
Despite the album's huge success, Gotye revealed in an interview with Rolling Stone Australia that he initially battled with indecision and depression while making the album, which in turn became the subject matter of songs like "Smoke and Mirrors" and "Save Me". He stated: "There were points that I thought I wouldn’t be able to finish a record I was really into or that I’d give up at some stage."[11]
Track listing
No. Title Length
1. "Making Mirrors" 1:01
2. "Easy Way Out" 1:57
3. "Somebody That I Used to Know" (featuring Kimbra) 4:04
4. "Eyes Wide Open" 3:11
5. "Smoke and Mirrors" 5:13
6. "I Feel Better" 3:18
7. "In Your Light" 4:39
8. "State of the Art" 5:22
9. "Don't Worry, We'll Be Watching You" 3:18
10. "Giving Me a Chance" 3:07
11. "Save Me" 3:53
12. "Bronte" 3:18
13. "Dig Your Own Hole" (iTunes bonus track; bonus download from bandtag.com.au as part of the limited edition CD) 4:23
14. "Somebody That I Used to Know - Faux Pas Remix" (iTunes pre-order bonus track) 3:59
15. "Showdown Below My Sombrero" (CD/DVD pre-order bonus track) 2:30