Gabrielle Roth, The Mirrors

The new edition of Selected Works 1985-2005 provides a long-awaited gateway into the visionary universe of Gabrielle Roth and The Mirrors. Initially curated from a vast archive for Time Capsule’s celebrated first pressing, this double LP draws on material improvised for Roth’s 5Rhythms dance workshops - a method where music and movement are inseparable, leading participants through phases of release, reflection and collective trance. The ensemble’s ever-shifting line-up - featuring master musicians whose credits intertwine with jazz and world music luminaries - generates a striking interplay of ritual percussion, sensual melodies and spontaneous electronics, with each cut embodying a distinct facet of Roth’s tapestry. Unlike most ambient music of its era, the album pulses with kinetic intensity - from thunderous drumming inspired by Yoruba and Native American traditions, to phases that channel kosmische, proto-house and spiritual jazz. Roth herself serves as inspirational conductor and “catalyst,” fostering environments where ensemble vision surpasses individual authorship. Scott Ansell’s engineering grounds these collective improvisations, capturing their nuanced energy, while the sequencing favors contrast, guiding listeners through introspective valleys and feverish climaxes.

What sets Selected Works 1985-2005 apart is its refusal to settle on a singular genre identity. Listeners hear echoes of shamanic ritual, club euphoria and meditative exploration - yet the music retains an unmistakable personality rooted in Roth’s commitment to transformative art. The album’s rhythms are designed not simply for listening, but for physical engagement - for dance floors, workshops or private reverie. Newly lacquer-cut for 2025, this repress gives overdue prominence to music initially overlooked outside mindful movement circles. With striking artwork by Donna Leake and lining notes that contextualize its legacy, the release invites both devotees and new listeners to discover an archive where every track promises passage to altered states of consciousness and renewed connection to rhythm and self.