Gotye - Making Mirrors

Gotye - Aussie art-popping studio wiz (pronounced Gauthier -- real name Wouter "Wally" De Backer) has become something of an international cult favorite blending meticulous and extensive sampling -- often of real instruments and ambient noise -- with 80's styled progressive pop songwriting and production..."Somebody That I Used to Know", with Kiwi songstress Kimbra, was one of 2011's biggest singles Down Under, reaping multiple ARIA awards and topping airplay charts // Release: Making Mirrors (January 31) // Sounds like: Gotye's reedy tenor and sophisticated rhythm charts have drawn comparisons to Sting and Peter Gabriel (how about Howard Jones?)...the synth-heavy keyboard programming that drives the sound add a frosty sheen to the proceedings while the undeniably catchy melodies keep things grounded in more traditional pop territory...(watch the fine EPK below)

Quote: "You can buy so many virtual instruments online these days, but it’s not nearly as personal as making them yourself. I found a beautiful old chromaharp at an antique shop, and ‘virtualised’ it in this way. It ended up sounding more like an unusual hammer dulcimer when played on a midi keyboard or programmed with software” // What we like: For the upbeat, prog-pop rhythms and Sting-like melody -- there's nothing light lyrically about "Somebody That I Used to Know", a devastatingly pointed and acerbic look back on a relationship gone bad...Gotye was originally a drummer, something that comes to the forefront throughout the album, particularly on the staggered beats of "Save Me" or the creepy atmospheres of "Don't Worry We'll Be Watching You"...

Gotye - "Somebody That I Used to Know" (featuring Kimbra) (from Making Mirrors)

Gotye - "Save Me" (from Making Mirrors)

Stream more Gotye here...