The Belgian-born, Australia-based multi-instrumentalist Gotye (“ga-te-yay”) has been releasing music under the radar since his 2003 debut Boardface. Yet with the viral sensation of his video for “Somebody That I Used to Know” (46 million views and counting, plus 30 million views -in two weeks!- for Walk off the Earth’s cover; both videos below) – and the U.S. release of third album Making Mirrors (out digitally now, on CD January 31)– anonymity is a thing of the past. That song, a duet with up-and-coming Aussie songbird Kimbra, is the apotheosis of Gotye’s striking sound: playful electronics, memorable choruses, and the hungering vocals of a young, heartbroken Sting. And what exquisite heartbreak there is! From the jumpy New Wave of “Easy Way Out” to the ghostly loss of ambient closer “Brontë,” Gotye (born Wouter De Backer) reflects his pain and our own back to us. And, my oh my, do we love what we see.
