The Band

Happy Saturday all! Today we’re going to reflect on an instrumental wizard rock band called The Mirror of Erised. The band is the pseudonym of composer Bruce Geller, a huge Harry Potter fan who dove headfirst into Harry Potter filk in 2007. Bruce has traveled across the country to perform his wrockish tunes and, as of writing this, has nine singles on his Bandcamp page. Let’s take a look!

The Tracks

The first track is called How To Make An American Wand. The movement and style used in this track gives me the feeling of a magical factory, with spinning gears and colorful sparks coming out of the machinery. The instrumentals seem to combine mystery with technology to create America’s finest wands.

Enchanted Harp is next, emulating the sound of the magical harp that Quirrell charmed to play Fluffy to sleep in the first book. This track is so relaxing, it could definitely put me to sleep (in a good way)! It sounds like something you could easily play at a massage parlor if you needed a chill vibe. The melody is smooth and soothing, with bright and happy notes scattered throughout.

We get into a Yule Ball Groove with the next track, which is – true to its name – an absolutely groovin’ song. With a bumping bassline and crystalline high notes, I imagine a group of worn-out students going to get some punch while subtly moving to this song.

Let’s head up to The Astronomy Tower for a look at the night sky! This track starts with a huge clock chime, and segues into an ethereal sound that is reminiscent of the aurora borealis. It has a galaxy-like style that I really enjoyed.

Malfoy Manor is next. This track reminds me of Gregorian Chants, which I frequently listen to while painting or relaxing (no, I’m not joking). I love the drums and the woodwind melody that are constants throughout the piece. This was a favorite of mine out of the nine tracks.

We ready ourselves for the Battle For Hogwarts next, which reminds me of the battle music from Final Fantasy X, appropriately. Sweeping strings and consistent rhythmic percussion paves the way for what we hope is a bright future for when the battle is done.

Deathly Hallows starts off with an eerie sound like wind blowing through a long, dark tunnel. Strings and bells are added, and I can picture the enormous empty shell of King’s Cross station that exists in Harry’s mind. I imagine mist seeping from the grates in the floor, and the tiles on the walls reflecting light from an unknown source.

A creepy jam is how I would describe the next track, East Of Gringotts. It has electric guitar that echoes off of what seem like the walls of an endless cavern deep underground. The guitar reminds me of mine cart wheels screeching against the metal rails, and the percussion sounds like drops of water falling in a dark cave. I love the beat in this one, which made it another favorite.

Reflections of Desire is the last track that I’ll be reviewing today, as it is the final song that is (as of writing this) on The Mirror of Erised’s Bandcamp page. I feel like I’ve stepped into a planetarium as I listen to the soothing sound of strings and electronic pitches that sound like shooting stars. I could wrap myself up in an Invisibility Cloak and listen to this all day.

In Summary

As someone who majored in instrumental music in college, I really enjoyed this album. There is so much to say without using words, and all of the above music is a perfect example of this. The range of emotions and styles used in these nine tracks is impressively large. I also enjoyed the blurbs that Bruce put under every track. You can find The Mirror of Erised’s music on Bruce’s website, Facebook page, and Soundcloud in addition to his Bandcamp. Reflecting back on this album, the rating that I would give it is: out of one pair of socks, a Dumbledore holding them.