Secret Things – Motorifik (Free Download)
The LP Secret Things is an outpouring of two talented songwriters. Phil Kay of Working for a Nuclear Free City joined forces with French songwriter Idrisse Khelifi to make a collection of well-written, well-produced indie pop rock tracks. Kay met Khelifi while recording the previous WFANFC album, and the two came together to write songs that could be ‘both immediate and sonically arresting.’
The opening title track ‘Secret Things’ gives the listener a preview of the sonic depth where this album resides. No less than four guitar tracks coupled with multiple ambient vocal backups create a dense melody section to fortify the feelings expressed in the lead vocals. The production style is worth mentioning because despite having so many diverse tracks going on, the overall song is still a very straightforward pop song with a clear lead vocal.
The collection of songs that follow continue to grab my attention with an interesting combination of clever vocal harmony and acoustic rock styling. A common theme throughout the album is a tone of depressed apathy. Almost grunge in its nature Motorifik sings “I wish I could sleep forever,” in what I consider the strongest track of the album ‘Sleep Forever.’
What makes Secret Things a great listen is the ability for the songwriters to create instrument textures that coincide with the lyrical subjects. The whole album sounds like a ‘best of collection’ consisting of the strongest sounds the producer was able to get in the studio. Rarely does a piano, drum or guitar sound like it was recorded similarly to another track.
