For Chelmsford’s Secret Company, the road to ‘The World Lit Up And Filled With Colour’ has been a varied one. From writing music in a garden shed to tasting the nectar of touring and festivals, here are a band with a promising future. Can their debut album live up to that promise?

‘Final Wish’ shouts yes from the very top. With punchy guitars, over the top synth swells and an overall electronic infused feel, Secret Company seem to have pop music flowing through their veins. The vocals climb an impressive range showcasing an incredible ear for melody. With the bar set high so early on, it’s unfortunate ‘Saviour’ instantly kills the momentum. As a single this should best represent Secret Company but overall really doesn’t go anywhere to continue the good vibes from a storming introduction.

‘Alive’ kicks things into high gear again. Soaring choruses and synth heavy production feature prominently. ‘The World…’, it would seem, offers a rollercoaster ride. There are high points in ‘Lightning Parade’ and the epic that is ‘Midnight Rush’ but these are immediately combated by the droll monotony of songs such as ‘Out Of The Blue’ and ‘Fever Of Love’. There are some crutches to be relied upon and ideas are revisited, in particular the ’80’s feeling almost electronic drums, and although it is good to have a style, sometimes it’s hard to distinguish one song from another.

Despite this, Secret Company are still able to make a strong impression. The highs are enough to elevate the lesser tracks and bring the whole record up to scratch. There are seriously infectious points, moments of shear brilliance like the chorus to ‘Midnight Rush’, and these will leave you feeling conflicted over where to peg ‘The World…’.

For a band so full of promise, Secret Company are more than capable of releasing an outstanding record, and for many ‘The World Lit Up And Filled with Colour’ will be that. However, there are a few grey areas that need to be filled with colour to ensure that Secret Company can live up to their reputation as one of the acts to watch in 2017.

3/5

‘The World Lit Up And Filled With Colour’ by Secret Company is out now on Standby Records.

Secret Company links: Facebook|Twitter

Words by Jay Harrison (@Just_Jay_89)