Fort Wayne’s purveyors of funk and soul Sun.Dyle are back with the introspective and breezy Mirror. 

The jazz-inflected jams and soul-heavy vibes of their 2023 EP Faintest Idea are still very much present and accounted for, but this time around there’s a sense of urgency and presence that makes Mirror all the more inviting and invigorating. 

Sun.Dyle puts it all in Mirror, an album that builds past what came before and into unknown sonic territory, and to stunning effect.

“Tossed” opens things up on a jazzy, summery vibe. Musically, we’re hitting up everything from Edie Brickell to Rusted Root with some modern jazz undertones thrown in for stunning effect. The chorus opens things up like the sun peeking through the clouds on an overcast day. “Sun God” starts out in ethereal tones but opens into an almost fusion-meets-progressive vibe. I’m reminded of Red Hot Chili Peppers’ cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground” with some tasteful guitar vibes slathered in a POG (Poly Octave Generator) guitar effects pedal. “Vugaru” has a hip-hop flavor in the key of Digable Planets (“Cool Like That,” anyone?) as vocalist Emma Torres gives everything a warm, soulful aftertaste. 

Elsewhere, “Empress” opens with some tasteful sax and lowdown bass for some seriously groove-heavy soul rock, while the ethereal “Crown” gives us a moment of reflection and redemption. There’s some cosmic soul vibes here that you’d be happy to live in for a day or two. This track is a reminder of what an amazingly tight band Sun.Dyle truly are. Soul, jazz, fusion, and blues all come together in a blaze of sonic glory. 

The slinky “Mirror” leads into the groovy-heavy and nearly 10-minute closer “Gloom.” “Gloom” is a band showcase, giving us a glimpse of the musically diverse and instrumentally prolific band that Sun.Dyle are. There’s even a bit of “My Favorite Things” at the end, a nod to both Rodgers and Hammerstein and John Coltrane?

We need more artists like Sun.Dyle in our world. Bands that appreciate the nuance of song, but also the proficiency of musicianship. Mirror has them both in spades.