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Vanishing Kids party like its 1991. The band, which first formed in 2000 by Nikki Drohomyreky (guitars, bass, keyboards, and vocals) and Jason Hartman (guitar, bass, vocals) in Madison, WI, brings older, already established, sounds into everything that they write. The Selfish Mirror is their first album on Failed Experiment Records and is produced by Steven Seibold (of Hate Dept & Damage Manual) and Martin Atkins (of PIL, Pigface, & Invisible Records).

Vanishing Kids are clearly inspired by some of the more significant bands of the last twenty years. Traces of My Bloody Valentine, mid-period Cure, Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth, and others pop in and out of every song on this album. By mixing the styles of so many other bands, Vanishing Kids are able to dilute their influences and create their own sound.

The band manages to maintain this sound while still establishing a diverse range. Tracks move from shoegaze to goth, from new wave to rock. Vanishing Kids also keep things sounding interesting by switching the vocal responsibilities between three of the four band members.

There are a couple tracks that stand out. "Shadow Of A Doubt" is a warm, hazy song that gently walks along its six and a half minutes. The piece is thick and dreamy goodness. "Rest The Glove" is another fantastic track, but this song is great for completely different reasons. Guitars whine and move with urgency as disheartened lyrics are cried out with dramatic changes in pitch.

Other tracks are less successful. "Snow Angel" sounds like it had been written after prolonged exposure to The Cure’s Disintegration. The problem with "Snow Angel" is that it doesn’t go anywhere. The song starts off strong with fuzzy guitars that are supported by a throbbing bass line. Then, at the two minute mark, heavy synths kick in. After this is six minutes of different instrumentation echoing the same melody.

Vanishing Kids can be a bit derivate, but never to the point where it sounds plagiarized. And they only borrow from the best.

Reviewed by: Richie Corelli

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