Secret Shine
Encyclopedia
Secret Shine are a British
shoegazing
band formed in the early 1990s, who were signed to Sarah Records
. Although early releases with both Sarah and A Turntable Friend followed the more linear Sarah pop stylings, the 1992 release Untouched broke into unapologetic shoegazing territory, earning the band many comparisons with Slowdive
and My Bloody Valentine.
, Scott Purnell and Jamie Gingell recorded their first single for the label, After Years. After recruiting three more members (Nick Dyte, Dean Purnell, and Paul Vowles) they recorded the Unbearable single for the A Turntable Friend label in Germany. The addition of Dean Tyler to the lineup resulted in the Ephemeral single on Sarah. Later, Jamie and Scott recorded some demos that became the Untouched album.
In 1993 the album, along with the Loveblind single, was recorded and released. The addition of vocalist Kathryn Smith to the band added a new dimension, and this period saw them enter the Indie charts and become part of the burgeoning shoegazing scene.
Untouched tracks:
Just as things were starting to grow, Jamie and Scott felt it was necessary to go back to University for their final year, which slowed things down somewhat. After University, however, the band got back together and recorded the Greater than God EP, which they regard as their most accomplished work 1.
After the recording of the Each to the Other flexidisc, Dean Tyler left the band, followed by Nick Dyte. Tim Morris joined, on drums, the rest of the lineup being Jamie (vocals and bass), Scott (guitars), Dean Purnell (guitars), and Kathryn (vocals). The single Wasted Away was recorded, released on Spoiler Records as Sarah had recently folded. After playing a gig in Oxford in early 1996, the band decided to call it a day, though they never officially split.
Though not the main reason for the band reforming, it was certainly a "catalyst" 2. To begin with, events were fluid. Scott left for a while, and, tragically, Tim Morris died. This made the band get back together again, and as a tribute to Tim they recorded the 8-song, acoustic Morris album.
Morris tracks:
The band are still together and their new album "All of The Stars" was released April 8, 2008.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
shoegazing
Shoegazing
Shoegazing is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged from the United Kingdom in the late 1980s. It lasted there until the mid 1990s, with a critical zenith reached in 1990 and 1991...
band formed in the early 1990s, who were signed to Sarah Records
Sarah Records
Sarah Records was a UK independent record label active between 1987 and 1995, best known for its recordings of indie pop.The label was formed in Bristol in 1987 by Clare Wadd and Matt Haynes, and grew out of the fanzine scene at the time, Haynes having previously edited Are You Scared To Get...
. Although early releases with both Sarah and A Turntable Friend followed the more linear Sarah pop stylings, the 1992 release Untouched broke into unapologetic shoegazing territory, earning the band many comparisons with Slowdive
Slowdive
Slowdive were an English shoegaze band that formed in 1989. The band formed in Reading, Berkshire and primarily consisted of Nick Chaplin , Rachel Goswell , Neil Halstead , and Christian Savill...
and My Bloody Valentine.
1990 to 1996
The group originally formed under the name Amelia's Dream. After sending a 3-song demo to Sarah RecordsSarah Records
Sarah Records was a UK independent record label active between 1987 and 1995, best known for its recordings of indie pop.The label was formed in Bristol in 1987 by Clare Wadd and Matt Haynes, and grew out of the fanzine scene at the time, Haynes having previously edited Are You Scared To Get...
, Scott Purnell and Jamie Gingell recorded their first single for the label, After Years. After recruiting three more members (Nick Dyte, Dean Purnell, and Paul Vowles) they recorded the Unbearable single for the A Turntable Friend label in Germany. The addition of Dean Tyler to the lineup resulted in the Ephemeral single on Sarah. Later, Jamie and Scott recorded some demos that became the Untouched album.
In 1993 the album, along with the Loveblind single, was recorded and released. The addition of vocalist Kathryn Smith to the band added a new dimension, and this period saw them enter the Indie charts and become part of the burgeoning shoegazing scene.
Untouched tracks:
- 1. Suck Me Down
- 2. Temporal
- 3. Spellbound
- 4. So Close I Come
- 5. Into the Ether
- 6. Toward the Sky
- 7. Underworld
- 8. Sun Warmed Water
Just as things were starting to grow, Jamie and Scott felt it was necessary to go back to University for their final year, which slowed things down somewhat. After University, however, the band got back together and recorded the Greater than God EP, which they regard as their most accomplished work 1.
After the recording of the Each to the Other flexidisc, Dean Tyler left the band, followed by Nick Dyte. Tim Morris joined, on drums, the rest of the lineup being Jamie (vocals and bass), Scott (guitars), Dean Purnell (guitars), and Kathryn (vocals). The single Wasted Away was recorded, released on Spoiler Records as Sarah had recently folded. After playing a gig in Oxford in early 1996, the band decided to call it a day, though they never officially split.
2004 to Present
In 2004, a retrospective collection was released by the Clairecords label, containing all their Sarah material (apart from the first single, and including the Untouched album).Though not the main reason for the band reforming, it was certainly a "catalyst" 2. To begin with, events were fluid. Scott left for a while, and, tragically, Tim Morris died. This made the band get back together again, and as a tribute to Tim they recorded the 8-song, acoustic Morris album.
Morris tracks:
- 1. You are inside
- 2. Lost all your friends
- 3. Loveblind
- 4. Silver machine
- 5. Take me slowly
- 6. Ignite the air
- 7. Tim’s song
- 8. Decay
The band are still together and their new album "All of The Stars" was released April 8, 2008.
Albums
| Title | Label & Cat# | Date | Format(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Untouched | Sarah 615 | March 1993 | LP , CD |
| After Years | Clairecords 9966 | February 2004 | CD |
| Morris - Acoustic Tribute Album | None | May 2005 | CD |
| All of the Stars | Clairecords FERN074 | April 2008 | CD |
EPs
| Title | Label & Cat# | Date | Format(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| After Years | Sarah 53 | September 1991 | 7" |
| Greater than God | Sarah 89 | May 1994 | 10" & CD |
| Elemental | Razorblade RZ01 | February 2006 | CD |
| Beyond Sea and Sky | Razorblade RZ03 | October 2006 | CD |
Singles
| Title | Label & Cat# | Date | Format(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unbearable My only friend |
A Turntable Friend 007 | September 1991 | 7" |
| Ephemeral - Honey sweet Secret shine |
Sarah 61 | April 1992 | 7" |
| Loveblind Way too high Honey sweet (CD only) |
Sarah 71 | April 1993 | 7" & CD |
| Wasted Away Wish Coming True |
Spoiler SSS001 | February 1995 | 7" |
| Each to the Other Jennifer (Split single with 'Collide') |
Swirl 01 | February 1996 | Flexidisc |
Tracks on Compilations
| Album Title | Label & Cat# | Track(s) |
|---|---|---|
| There And Back Again Lane | Sarah 100 | Temporal |
| Battery Point | Sarah 359 | Deep Thinker |
| Gaol Ferry Bridge | Sarah 530 | Loveblind |
| Fountain Island | Sarah 583 | Grey Skies |
| Engine Common | Sarah 628 | Honey Sweet |
| In this Place called Nowhere | Quattro 2011, Sarah Japan | After Years |
| La Rue Du Chat Qui Peche | Quattro 2024, Sarah Japan | Loveblind Temporal |
| Birth of the True | Sugarfrost Frosty2 | Take me Slowly |
| Test Tones Vol. 1.1 | Clairecords FERN 035 | Way Too High |
External links
- Official Site
- Band MySpace page
- [ Secret Shine on Allmusic]
- Sarah Records entry
- OpusZine review