Dardanelles are a four piece band from Melbourne, Australia. They formed in… Read Full Bio ↴Dardanelles are a four piece band from Melbourne, Australia. They formed in 2006.

Their sound is difficult to categorise, but falls loosely under the post/art-punk umbrella, and channels elements of shoegaze, electronica, ambient noise, and industrial.

They are renowned for the ability to meld disparate musical elements into a continuous soundscape, matched with impressionistic lyrics.

Their first album, MIRROR MIRROR, was shortlisted for the Australian Music Prize, QANTAS/SOYA Music Prize, and was ranked the 6th best album of 2007 by the INPRESS critics.

Dardanelles have previously toured with Crystal Castles, Who Made Who, 1990s, Howling Bells, Ratatat, Shocking Pinks, and many more.

They have played most Australian festivals, including Pyramid, Playground, Field Day, Trackside, Essential and more.

Mirror Mirror
Dardanelles Lyrics

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It's raining weather balloons
And we're ooh-ing and ah-ing in zeroes and ones up until
Morning mourns the afternoon
Like a puncture repair kit so perfect it's never been used

Mirror mirror
Whisper all you've seen
Whisper all the whispers we wipe clean.

Futures start to reproduce
And it smells like the paper that patiently swallows the room

You are so practical
A dictionary picture of something that sometimes is you.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Dardanelles' song "Mirror Mirror" are a poetic expression of our relationship with technology and its impact on our lives. The first line, "It's raining weather balloons," sets the surreal tone of the song, suggesting that technology has taken over our reality. The use of zeroes and ones, the fundamental language of digital technology, reinforces this idea. It's as if we're living in a world that's been transformed into a digital code, where everything is reduced to bits of information.

Despite this, the lyrics suggest that we're still able to maintain some sense of wonder and joy in this world. We're "ooh-ing and ah-ing" in response to the technologies that surround us, yet we're also aware of their limitations. The line "Morning mourns the afternoon" suggests that time is passing us by, and that we're missing out on something essential. The "puncture repair kit" that's "so perfect it's never been used" underscores the idea that technology promises much but delivers little.

The chorus, with its repeated refrain of "Mirror mirror, whisper all you've seen," suggests that we're trapped in a world of reflection, where we're constantly looking at ourselves through our technology. We're so absorbed in the world of digital information that we forget the real world around us. The "whispers we wipe clean" suggests that we're selective in what we allow ourselves to see, and that we're not really interested in the truth.

Overall, the lyrics of "Mirror Mirror" are a powerful critique of our relationship with technology. They suggest that while we're fascinated by it, we're also wary of its effects. They challenge us to look beyond the surface of things and to remember our connection to the real world.

Line by Line Meaning

It's raining weather balloons
Innovative, new ideas are pouring down upon us.

And we're ooh-ing and ah-ing in zeroes and ones up until
We are in tune with technology and enjoying the experience.

Morning mourns the afternoon
The realization of time lost leads to sorrow and regret.

Like a puncture repair kit so perfect it's never been used
A perfect solution for problems that may not exist.

Mirror mirror
Looking into oneself for answers.

Whisper all you've seen
Sharing the truth, even if it's hard to hear.

Whisper all the whispers we wipe clean.
Revealing hidden secrets that we often try to bury.

Futures start to reproduce
New futures arise from the choices we make.

And it smells like the paper that patiently swallows the room
The atmosphere is filled with the potential for change, like blank paper waiting for words.

You are so practical
You are realistic, grounded in practicality.

A dictionary picture of something that sometimes is you.
Described as something you may be like, but not always fully encompassing who you are.

Contributed by Michael H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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