January 2004 in a small hotel room, twenty stories above ground in Brisbane’s downtown, Tujiko Noriko and Lawrence English began a modest recording project with the simplest of tools – a microphone and a laptop. With the din of traffic humming in the distance, the pair recorded four vocal pieces, with little more intention than seeing how songs might take shape having been recorded with no initial musical backing.

A few months later, English had completed mixes of the four tracks – each of them baring a free form sound – layered and expressive. Months passed and both Tujiko and English diverted their attentions to a variety of other recording and film projects. Then in early 2005 the pair started to discuss growing the four pieces into a full length project – a record that built on the unusual song structures and textures recorded back in 2004. Before long another three tracks were in production, with files being passed back and forth via mail and ftp.

Featuring contributions from ::room40::’s John Chantler, David Kemp and Benjamin Thompson, as well as acclaimed producer and visual artist Aki Onda, choreographer Etienne Bideau-Rey and musician Hosomi Sakana, Blurred In My Mirror is a disarmingly evocative listen – and shows a new side to Tujiko Noriko’s blossoming song style. It sees Tujiko’s vocals scattered across a diverse sonic terrain, moving from processed free folk through to ambient rock and pulsing electronics. It’s a record of contrast and contemplation – unbound and expansive with a genuine passion for the unexpected, the exotic and the playful.