Secret Things by Motorifik
LABEL: Modern Language Recordings
Motorifik seem to be wasting no time with their debut album, Secret Things. Normally, one would expect a band to take at least a few albums to develop a unique and well-formed sound. Not the case with Motorifik, though that may be because its two members are already busy musicians. Phil Kay writes songs for and produces Working for a Nuclear Free City and Idrisse Khelifi is an accomplished French songwriter. Their talents mesh well on this album which features a direct songwriting approach and lush production that gives their music a mature and distinctive sound right out of the gate. They seem to be going for a huge, spacious sound that is a mixture of shoegaze and, perhaps, a dash of arena rock with layers of sound weaving in and out of each other creating enveloping cascades of sound. While one could easily draw similarities between this album and those of the latest from Working for a Nuclear Free City, there are clearly more than a few differences.
“As far as the album goes though, this is perhaps one of the standouts of this year so far.”
The production values that bind this album together are similar to those of Working for a Nuclear Free City, but combining that with this direct songwriting approach that suggests a closer comparison to Phoenix. The songs are just as catchy and laden with as many worthy hooks, but the melodies are a bit less angular with several more layers of instruments in the mix. The main focus of this album is the overall sound. The vocals just happen to be adding one more melodic line over the top of a mass of guitars, synths and percussion. This isn’t to say that they don’t change their focus from track to track. Motorifik is careful not to push the production to the maximum threshold for more than a few songs in a row. Elements of shoegaze permeate throughout the cascades of ever-growing sound. The drums sound more like explosions than anything else, with the cymbals adding a hazy layer of resonance, most notably in the album opening “Secret Things“ and “Flames on the Ocean.”
“There is a depth and complexity to the songwriting here.”
“Nostalgie” dials it back a few notches with sparse guitar and vocals. This more subdued track allows silence to creep in a bit, creating a gentler, more subtle and intimate moment on the album. It contrasts with “Strange Weather” which serves to be the most brash of the tunes on Secret Things and begins with some feedback whose growls and squeaks grow increasingly loud before bursting forward with garage rock guitar grinding away for the duration of the song. This album showcases the songwriting duo’s desire to experiment with different textures. From track to track, there are different approaches to the sound, though a certain thread is woven through the entire album that holds everything together.
Beyond the production values of this recording, the aforementioned melodies and memorable hooks really standout. For example, “Sleep Forever” could easily become an anthem for college students and insomniacs alike with the line “I wish I could sleep, I wish I could sleep, I wish I could sleep forever” that instantly begs to be sung along. “Nameless Color” is similar to “Nostalgie,” one of the subdued and stripped down tracks. The bare acoustic guitar is left untouched by effects here and we get only some delicate echoes from the distance during the chorus. There is a depth and complexity to the songwriting here. Motorifik doesn’t seem to find themselves beholden to any one specific style in particular, much in the same vain as Working for a Nuclear Free City. They are able to create quite a unique and easily recognizable sound with every song.
Secret Things is quite a strong debut album. It’s one of those records where one can hear how much care and time went into the creation of it from top to bottom. My main concern is how well an album like this will translate in a live setting, because as good as the songs are quite a lot is owed to studio wizardry and production values. Sometimes atmospherics, like the ones so present on these songs, are difficult to pull off in front of an audience. Then again, perhaps allowing the songs to shine through on their own will uncover a new side to them. As far as the album goes though, this is perhaps one of the standouts of this year so far.
REVIEWED BY ADAM SHANLEY
ADAM’S FAVE TRACKS: “Flames on the Ocean” • “Strange Weather” • “Used Angel”
Read more Adam on his blog, Quartertonality
FREE MP3: “Secret Things”
