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Have to admit that this is another of those thought lost, was lost then found scenarios. My copy is from the original CD-r pressing put out by Greg Prickman aka Chuzzlewit, now more widely available from those nice people at Alice in Wonder. Chuzzlewit has been peppering the cassette only markets with his hard to get hold of releases, Earworm where the first to cast the speculative eye, his album for them still proving to be one of the most enduring and often overlooked releases on the back catalogue.
'Secret Affinities' is overall a sensitive exposition of intimacy, featuring guest vocals from members of the wilfully overlooked Trembling Blue Stars, it exposes a sense of mellowness throughout, touching, timid and very absorbing. Greg creates dreamy collages that are part hypnotic drone and other times pertaining a folky resonance, all speculatively coloured and doused in a fair amount of atmospheric textures. Simply evolving from a guitar, he managed to capture mood of tranquil bliss within a well-tempered sense of longing for some idealic faraway unspoiled beauty spot. 'A sparrow in short' drifts gallantly, moving betwixt repetitive beats, refined church like atmospherics, add some softened entwining guitar work and you have something that is deeply touching, partly melancholic but nonetheless definably memorable. 'Bells above the Streets' is purely the ambit of receding summer nights, reflective and as refreshing as the cool breeze of the night-time air. I have to admit that my favourite track is the reworked former single for Sticky Records, 'North Atlantic'. Sounding very much like classic New Order, taking the best elements and mixing between the dark period 'Ceremony'' and the brighter 'Run 2', 'North Atlantic' weaves a smooth gliding path, very summery sounding.
'People are never Static' starts similar to 'in the air tonight' by Phil Collins but thankfully not for long, as with 'A Sparrow in Short' it returns the sound to ethereal cavernous textures, sort of widescreen dreamy oblivion, the different elements cascading to a harmonial union. 'Down by the garden path' I have to say is ruined by the skipping techno like percussion, would probably be magnificent instead of just plainly elegant.
'Secret Affinities' is sometimes smart, sometimes serene, sometime elegant but at no time a waste of time. Do your head a favour and just chill out.
MARK BARTON
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