 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
About Secret Synthi
San Francisco-based Secret Synthi is Heather Ottaway (keyboards, drum treatments, vocals) & Jaimie Lock (bass, drum treatments, vocals). Armed with countless vintage synths and drum machines, Secret Synthi draws on elements like the innocence of ABBA and the ambience of Joy Division. You won't find piles of thoughtlessly compiled samples and beat loops here, but layers of warm analog sounds imparted with sugary vocal melodies.
Formed in the summer of 2001, Secret Synthi included original member Melinda Lacy (keyboards, vocals) in addition Ottaway and Lock. Together they developed a sound as unique as their individual influences & talents. Ottaway’s solid understanding of analog keyboards served as the foundation of the group. Lock brought her stripped-down bass style and visual arts aesthetic. Lacy’s straightforward composition approach and background in performing arts completed the mix. In the next year, a full-length recording was completed. Entirely written, arranged, and recorded between a small shed and spare bedroom, Katzchenkollision marked the debut release of Secret Synthi. more...
|
Press/Reviews of Secret Synthi & Katzchenkollision
Just Added! 12.08.04 - SF WEEKLY. Secret Synthi was included in a holiday ode to local bands. Read it here!
"The recent wave in popularity of electronic music (both underground and mainstream) has mainly been characterized by digitalized/computerized sounds and hard disco and/or techno beats - loud, pumping dance music meant for clubs and parties. Underneath this frenzy of laptop-bearing electro acts, DJs, and all-night party-goers lays Secret Synthi - a San Francisco-based trio that plays electronic music purely for pop fans. Its style is smooth and slow electropop with haunting hooks and shades of both early new wave and '60 psychedelia. And unlike a lot of current electro acts, you won't find any of these ladies producing sounds on computer programs, as they choose to play strictly classic analog machines (old synths and keyboards, drum machines, Moog, etc.), which gives a nice, organic, Kraftwerkian feel to their songs. They've tossed in some atmospheric instrumental experimentation along with sugary pop tunes and a lot of interesting layers of analog sound for an eclectic disc. Although this album is too slow and full of basic pop structures for the dance floors, any fan of electropop will enjoy."
- Venus Magazine, Fall 2003
"Secret Synthi are a trio of lo-fi synth'n'guitar pop gals from San Francisco named after an ultra rare, ultra cool synthesizer from the '70s - the Synthi AKS which came contained in its own briefcase-like carrying case. You might recognize its brethren's distinct sounds from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop or the band Yes (who purchased one of the Synthi prototypes back in the day). Anyways gear talk aside, this trio's music is super light and playful. Honey pie girl gang vocals with ample amounts of sass. Kicky, primitive rhythms. A party of keyboards, organs, electric guitar, effects pedals and vintage synths (accompanying the Synthi are a Moog Prodigy, a Sequential Circuits Multi-Trak, the amazing Stylophone and of course the ever-present Roland Juno-60). Actually, I was just thinkin' that a picture perfect live extravaganza would be them along with Le Tigre, fellow SF duo the Capricorns and boyish counterparts Postal Service. An engaging album with a lot of fun song titles too... "Alright Mitten Fight"!"
- Aquarius Records, www.aquariusrecords.com
"For all of you who miss the warm sound of analog keyboards with your dance music, we offer for your approval Secret Synthi, San Francisco's answer to Gary Numan (if he were three chicks in pleather pants). Their debut disc, Katzchenkollision, is a warm, fuzzy throwback album that's sometimes otherworldly, innovative, and a laugh-out-loud good time - 100 percent fun."- John O'Neill, San Francisco Bay Guardian, www.sfbg.com