Review: The Secrecy ‘Pins & Needles’
Following Deeper Graves third full-length, Pull Me Toward The Dark, earlier this year, Jeff Wilson is back with another project, The Secrecy, who are comprised of Dustin Boltjes (vocals, synth), Dino Maglinte (drums), Anthony Reitz (bass) and, of course, Jeff Wilson (guitar, synth). Their debut full-length Pins & Needles follows the release of singles The Wall and Tonight, which were premiered on Decibel Magazine and Post-Punk.com, respectively. Theresa and A Big Worldwere also released, and the tracks shared a commonality is that they all came out in 2024.
Ryan Dun’s fabulously bleak artwork, with its use of a monochrome colour scheme, as well as the record’s themes, which purport to, according to the press statement, ‘explores themes of alienation, political fracture, private anxiety, and fragile human connection’. It certainly appears to nod to the darker side of the 1980s, one far removed from the glossy mainstream perception of the decade as being a time merely comprised of Dynasty, Yuppies, Bon Jovi and crass consumerism. Anything coming from Jeff Wilson and the Disorder Recordings staple is bound to get my attention, so here I am once again!
Theresa (the only one of the aforementioned singles to feature on the album) is impressive with its thunderous and prominent Drumming and baritone vocals, it’s the type of goth anthem which might have been found on the Sisters of Mercy’s Floodland. There’s a sense of occasion and drama present, of the kind which Meatloaf and (coincidentally) Sisters producer Jim Steinman would be proud of, a terrific start. Dancing In The Fire is subtler, not quite as bombastic as its predecessor but no less powerful either. Its infectious hook and danceable qualities give it a bouncier new wave feel, while the vocals recall Burton C Bell in his more introspective moments, a fun piece.
Its ambitious, soulful, gut wrenching and anthemic…
The 1980’s were mentioned earlier, and boy is Meet Me After Midnight a perfect pastiche of that period. Ministry’s With Sympathy and Factrix’s Scheintot immediately come to mind, as do more contemporary artists like Grave Pleasures. This slice of coldwave and synth-pop genius is an absolute joy to listen to, a personal favourite. Sky initially recalls what Ultravox were attempting to achieve on Vienna, but it thankfully lacks the pretension. It’s a ballad packed with plenty of melancholic European atmosphere and hits the spot beautifully.
Watchers initially starts off like Michael Jackson’s Thriller with its Halloween, horror vibes and funky beats but soon goes a more Industrial route with the crunchy riffing that takes it down a Killing Joke path, so of course I was going to dig it. Set Me Free is massive in scope, cinematic one could say, which is surprising considering it’s the shortest track on the album at just over three minutes. It’s also the most heartfelt, sonically speaking, though not in a modern-day self-indulgent emo sense. A necessary punchy injection to proceedings.
The title track, Pins & Needles, has a Peter Hook-style bassline to die for, especially on Joy Division’s Isolation. It could be considered an instrumental of sorts, what with the vocals drifting in and out and taking more of a backseat. There’s a dreamy shoegaze component that makes it all the more captivating to listen to. Same proves the perfect number with which to conclude the album, if you dig Disintegration-era The Cure, you’re going to love this. It’s ambitious, soulful, gut-wrenching and anthemic, the latter of which is not what I’d usually associate with Jeff Wilson’s songwriting.
It’s difficult to be prolific while simultaneously maintaining quality control, but Wilson has once again demonstrated that it is possible on this superb, long-awaited release.
Label: Disorder Recordings
Band Links: Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Scribed by: Reza Mills
