About the Artist: From France comes the musical dynamic duo known as Secret Season. Secret Season is comprised of Mark Moogalian on vocals/guitar and percussion and Isabelle Risacher on vocals, keyboards and flute. This is their second release entitled Paris Rain Dances released in 2012.
I have to say I was extremely impressed with the opening 3 tracks “In the Beginning”, “Living a True Story” and “Ana Naki” They made quite the first impression with me. Each one possessed my full unadulterated attention. To be honest: I expected cheesy Singer/Songwriter Pop cuts from the same cloth as say a Train, Jason Mraz and Maroon 5. Not that there’s anything wrong with the aforementioned bands, I just want to hear something new and different. What I discovered was actually quite the opposite. The whole CD is wonderful and is full of what I would call melodic energy with pop musical style that appeals to so many different senses on so many different levels. It reminds me of Tom Tom Club, The Minus Five, Parachute and Television. I can also hear the slight Psychedelic-Americana influence in there as well. What I really like about Secret Season is there is no attempt to deliver what I call over the top pop. Cheezy music with a pretty or handsome face via top flight sampling, cookie cutter songwriting via a mix that sounds more like a commercial than a piece of music. None of that here. The production work and guitar playing from Moogalian is impressive enough, but enter Risacher and her vocal pairing with Moogalian makes the CD even more entertaining. Paris Rain Dances will also appeal to many listeners – both advanced and novice alike. Whatever kind of listening level you’re on – this CD will just make you feel upbeat, quirky and happy. Like a three-layered Secret Season is one overseas band that has a lot of depth and has so much to offer the listener. Whether it’s musically, lyrically, inspirationally, emotionally, spiritually – if you feel like music is taking us in the wrong direction than rest assured Secret Season is taking us back in the right direction with “Paris Rain Dances.”
Top Track: Living a True Story.
Final Word: Secret Season will affirm your faith in music again. They represent all that is magical, real and good in music and their latest CD Paris Rain Dances delivers a highly diverse 12 track catalog via top flight production/musicianship, amazing songwriting and music that covers all the bases: Rock, Pop and Psychedelic-Americana.
by Michael Keith edited by Cyrus Rhodes
