SECRET MOMMY
Plays
Ache
· Secret Mommy enlists an all-star team of independent Vancouverite musicians in his quest to make a strictly non-electronic electronic album.
Andy Dixon (a.k.a. Secret Mommy) has been a fixture in Vancouver’s avant-garde music scene for many years. Some may remember his previous projects including the influential punk band, d.b.s. and the wildly original synth-punk project, The Red Light Sting.
Plays is Andy’s third release under the Secret Mommy moniker. Much like his previous albums, the meticulously textured pieces are deeply rooted in syncopated glitch experiments reminiscent of Squarepusher or Aphex Twin. However, instead of relying on electronic samples, drum loops and "found sound", like his forefathers, Plays has a rich acoustical quality from being recorded entirely from non-powered sources (no drum machines, electric guitars or synths). The mostly-spontaneous studio session – which featured a host of talent including Juno Award winner Jesse Zubot, members of The Winks and the Doers, and Calgary-native Chris Vanderlaan (ex-Buzzing Bees, Baby Control) – was edited and reworked for over a year. The result is amazing.
The album’s centrepiece, "Kool Aid River," is an infectiously energetic dance hit. In fact, the accompanying video, which has been lauded by pitchforkmedia.com and youtubers alike, is equally ambitious. "Grand About the Mouth" has an oddball sense of humour brought about by a mix of vocal harmonies and what sounds like a bassoon. The album even lays down some freestylin’ during "I Can’t Get Down."
Andy Dixon has always gone against the grain. Plays is no different. It is full of unexpected twists and unusual musical choices.
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