The Secret Ink
Issue #29
The Secret Ink (self-release)
By Dina Zwiebel
Published: September 1st, 2006 | 12:00am
The Secret Ink are like Prague, a city with unavoidably beautiful historical elements but a happening town with trendy cafes and creative young people. The self-titled debut from this New Haven, Connecticut, quintet seamlessly blends harmonizing super-pop songs along the lines of Belle & Sebastian with string compositions that could easily serve as a classical soundtrack for a stroll through Prague’s old city.
My favorite part of this record is the 18-second “Introduction,” a string piece that’s the musical equivalent of watching autumn leaves drift to the ground. It leads directly into “Neverafter,” with Jennifer Morgan’s dreamy voice floating over a calm, acoustic beat, guiding us into a catchy chorus that utilizes a perfect contrast of sweet vocals over dramatic strings. Another noteworthy track is “Boston Winter Snow,” in which Doug Slawin and Morgan take turns singing about the unexpected paths of life from different perspectives, recalling Lennon and McCartney’s “She’s Leaving Home.”
The Secret Ink practice in the oldest operating printing factory in the United States and make much of this fact by posting photos of their beloved rehearsal space on their website. Their quirks are endearing. Their music is impressive.
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