Secret Shine - There is Only Now
by Dixie Ernill
published: 12 / 6 / 2017

Label:
Saint Marie Records
Format: CD
intro
Excellent new shoegaze album from Bristol-based ex-Sarah band Secret Shine which is a real hit
Despite hailing from Manchester, a city with an undeniably rich musical history, my heart has always been drawn more to the sounds coming out of Bristol over the last 30 or so years. As such Secret Shine have appeared on my radar before and I bought their early singles back in the 1990’s when they were signed to Bristol’s Sarah Records label. Unfortunately, they may have been overlooked by many who wrongly deemed all bands on Sarah to be anorak wearing nerds only capable of making weedy twee shambling indie-pop music. In fact Secret Shine’s music was and still is harder, more textured and very much in keeping with the “Shoegaze” tag that was adorned to so many bands that surfaced in between C86 and Britpop. Indeed had Secret Shine been on Creation Records, the home of a number of like-minded souls at the time, they may well be feted now in the same way that Slowdive or Ride are. With a wonderful wall of guitar sound (courtesy of Scott and Dean Purnell) underpinned by Tom Adams solid drum work, Jamie Gingell and Kathryn Smith provide intertwined dreamy vocals. The result is a thing of haunting beauty, an album of relentless quality that demands to be played loud and devoured in one greedy sitting. It’s hard to pick a highlight, but current single 'Falling Again' probably just shades it, though opening track 'Burning Stars' and 'Drift Away'are also worthy contenders. Forget the past, There Is Only Now is the future!
Track Listing:-
1 Burning Stars2 All in Your Head
3 Dirty Game
4 Drift Away
5 To the Well
6 For You
7 Snowglobe
8 Falling Again
9 Things I Said
10 Make Me You
Band Links:-
https://en-gb.facebook.com/secretshine/https://secretshine.bandcamp.com/
https://twitter.com/SecretShineUK
Label Links:-
http://saintmarierecords.limitedrun.com/https://www.facebook.com/Saint-Marie-Records-164080190305178
https://twitter.com/StMarieRecords
https://www.youtube.com/user/stmarierecords/videos
https://instagram.com/saintmarierecords/
https://plus.google.com/101156744740824013197
interviews |
Interview (2024) |
![]() |
Kathryn Smith, the vocalist with Bristol indie pop/shoegazing group and former Sarah Records band Secret Shine, speaks to John Clarkson about her band's long career and its appearance on both the 'Under The Bridge' compilations. |
soundcloud
reviews |
Beyond Sky and Sea EP (2007) |
![]() |
Lush, perfect new EP from recently reformed shoegazers and former Sarah Records signing Secret Shine |
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