"the circle is unbroken..."
Secret Cigarette is part mystery, part sonic collaboration and my introduction to them, the beautiful outstretched hand of "Midnight Mass" feels as much like field recordings as it does a melodic bit of longing and psychedelic melancholia. The artists (and collaborators) derive their nostalgic sound using vintage instruments, hand made percussion and pedal effects and for some reason I imagine a jumbled bit of guitar chords snaking complexly through them all.
The track "Midnight Mass" feels haunting from the get go. The fade in with one sound that reminds me of a purring cat, lovely Hammond-esque organ sounds already has me by the shirt collar. When the piano downbeat, a McCartney-esque bass line and dreamy forlorn beautiful vocal melodies pushed along by drums, glass bells (?) I am steeped in a sort of late 60's psychedelic tea. The translucent, sometimes eerily beautiful orchestral sound is dense without sounding overbearing. It is perfect. The grand ascending chorus with a chorale of ethereal flutes (and more) feels somehow big and minimal at the same time.
Secret Cigarette is a mostly Providence, Rhode Island based band and "Midnight Mass" ended up having over 130 tracks and 7 collaborators. If I am not mistaken that does not include the members of SC (if I am corrected after this posts, I will state it here). Below are the amazing collaborators and it is a trip to realize some of the sounds that you may not be able to identify listening to this very cool and beautifully vast creation. Oh, the Official Video is equally surprising and wonderfully, charmingly weird.
The collaborators:
Rocco Bumbaca: vocals, guitar, effects
Abe Florestan: drums, organ, guitar, mixing
Ida Whipple: pianos, organ, percussion, saw
Joey Crosier: vocals, slide guitar, organ
Just Roni: flutes
tunnelhands: vocals, effects
Prudence Manchester: bass, effects
Abe Florestan: drums, organ, guitar, mixing
Ida Whipple: pianos, organ, percussion, saw
Joey Crosier: vocals, slide guitar, organ
Just Roni: flutes
tunnelhands: vocals, effects
Prudence Manchester: bass, effects
-Robb Donker Curtius
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM - PRESS NOTES:
https://www.instagram.com/secretcigarette_music/
https://soundcloud.com/user-412887279/midnight-mass
https://music.apple.com/us/album/midnight-mass/1599432322?i=1599432323
https://www.deezer.com/us/track/1554893782
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwqPNGQeEMfKKiq4zAcoLyQ
Secret Cigarette is a mostly Providence, RI based band influenced by nature and the unknown. They record with mostly underused vintage store-found instruments and hand-made auxiliary percussion, in addition to pedals and effects from local artists and small music companies. Having toured extensively with other bands, the members of Secret Cigarette aim to keep a low personal profile and you won't find their "names" attached to their former accolades. During covid lockdown, band members began recording at home, exploring their instrumental strengths, and collaborating, all through email. Some of the band members have yet to meet each other, though they hope to change that soon.
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM - PRESS NOTES:
https://www.instagram.com/secretcigarette_music/
https://soundcloud.com/user-412887279/midnight-mass
https://music.apple.com/us/album/midnight-mass/1599432322?i=1599432323
https://www.deezer.com/us/track/1554893782
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwqPNGQeEMfKKiq4zAcoLyQ
Secret Cigarette is a mostly Providence, RI based band influenced by nature and the unknown. They record with mostly underused vintage store-found instruments and hand-made auxiliary percussion, in addition to pedals and effects from local artists and small music companies. Having toured extensively with other bands, the members of Secret Cigarette aim to keep a low personal profile and you won't find their "names" attached to their former accolades. During covid lockdown, band members began recording at home, exploring their instrumental strengths, and collaborating, all through email. Some of the band members have yet to meet each other, though they hope to change that soon.
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