Locked Away by Unknown Mirrors

Locked Away is the second album from the compelling koto and recorder duo Unknown Mirrors. This 12-track journey blends textural noise and unique compositional language with lyrical melodies, pushing the boundaries of their instruments.
Composed over three years during residencies in Tokyo and Melbourne and an online songwriting process, Locked Away showcases the duo’s diverse influences - from contemporary classical, folk and alternative pop to traditional Japanese and Baroque. Accompanying the digital release is a limited run of zines, beautifully crafted by Tokyo-based visual artist Yoshinori Noda, adding a visual dimension to the listening experience.
Their performance is sometimes energetic and upbeat, sometimes blissful and embracing - creating music that is both fresh and familiar to the contemporary ear, whilst reflecting the history, culture and tradition of these ancient instruments.

This album is night time music for a sunny day.
It’s the soft clattering of a late night kitchen
heard from the street.
It's silent snow falling on warm water that springs
from deep underground.
It’s the late night cool sandy feeling sitting
on the beach after a sunset swim.
It’s for the traveller on a long journey.
It has childlike excitement in an adult body.
It’s the smell of eucalyptus coming
in through an open car window.
It's the soft breeze that carries distant truck engine noises.
It makes you feel like you're breathing underwater.
It's unexpected combinations of things that happen naturally.
Wherever we are, our music recreates our place.

It’s for you, the listener, to be with as you wish.


このアルバムは…
晴れた日の夜の音楽
外から聞こえてくる台所の静かな音
深い地下から湧き出るお湯の水面に落ちる無音の雪
夕方の海水浴の後の涼しい砂の感覚
長旅の友
大人の中にある子供の楽しさ
車窓から吹き込んでくるユーカリの香り
遠いトラックエンジンの音を運んでくるそよ風
水の中で息ができる気持ちにさせる
想像もしなかったものが、自然に組み合わさる
どこにいても、その音楽で私たちの場所が再現できる

聴いている人が、それぞれ好きなように
一緒に過ごしてもらいたい音楽です