Complete with hand claps, a gentle acoustic backing and various effects – it is an excellent representation of Secret Soundz Vol. 1. “Secret Sound #1” is brief but absorbing creating a host of images in your mind as, bizarrely, disjointed snippets from a Reginald Perrin novel are read out deep in the background. The sparse beginnings of “Words Fail Me Now” gradually open out as Johnny adds extra texture into the mix forming a deceptively strong song.
There are some darker elements at work in “Winter Home Disco” which tells of a private house warming party gone wrong. Also in “The Lighthouse” which is a haunting tale of a murderous lighthouse keeper, driven psychopathic by the cloying loneliness, delivered in a beautifully effective folk style. The electronic “Secret Sound #5” at the end of the album is an atmospheric six minutes that takes us back to the very beginning – with a lovely little twist for those patient enough to wait for it. Secret Soundz indeed.
The three Chorlton recorded tracks are obviously richer in production and are nicely placed within the album. The wonderfully celtic, “I Don’t Know Where To Begin” is a real highlight. “Ribbon (The Twist)” and “Into The Smoke” both capture a gentle yet rich folk vibe that has you sitting in a room lit by the open fire, listening intently.
I loved the immediacy and intimacy of this album. You just know that there must be a whole load of similar material that has come out of the Pictish Trail 8-track. I hope it finds its way out onto more releases like Secret Soundz Vol. 1. Thanks Johnny.
Have a listen and find out the tour dates and news on The Pictish Trail's Myspace Profile.
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