The Los Angeles-based Trade Secrets returns with “Escaping History”, a “new collection of stories about life, love and loss” as they call it. And more precisely, “this release is a reflection of the substantial emotional, artistic and existential growth that each of us as band’s members have experienced since the release of ‘These Other Lives’.”

The band themselves describe their sound as ‘future synth’ and was founded by machine rock veteran F.J. DeSanto (Hypefactor, the aggression) alongside longtime musical partners Mike “Ash” Venezia (Baye, 4th level) and multi-instrumentalist Charles LaBarbara. Joined by Peter Riley and John Kunkel, Trade Secrets blends multiple sounds and genres as you check out below.

“Life threw a few curveballs at us,” says the band’s F.J. DeSanto, “but when we finally got our shit together, it became clear that those challenges galvanized us and made us eager to dive into uncharted territory. That unity and desire to shake up how we operate has resulted in what could quite possibly be the best album we have ever made.”

“Escaping History” is available today from Distortion Productions on CD and through all digital and streaming platforms.

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Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil.

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Genre/Influences: Electro-pop, dance-pop, lounge-pop.

Background/Info: Set up in 2017 in Los Angeles (USA) by F.J. DeSanto, Trade Secrets became a so-called ‘future-synth’ collective featuring several members. After a previously released EP, “Before We Vansih” is the collective’s debut full length.

Content: The album reveals 9 songs, which are constantly supported with a poppy touch, but clearly mixing different influences with each other. Sometimes groovy and dance-like (cf. “Broken Instincts”, “Your Heaven”), I also noticed some sweet 80s reminiscences reminding me Spandau Ballet (“Games”), but also a more club-orientated passage (cf. “Wish For The Rest”).

+ + + : “Before We Vanish” has something atypical, which in a way makes the originality of the work but also the challenge. “Broken Instincts” perfectly symbolizes this approach by a mix of groovy elements and something lounge-minded. There also is a more sensual touch coming through at “Ultra Devil” while my personal favorite is the dancefloor friendly “Wish For The Rest”.

– – – : I can’t get away from the feeling there also is certain ‘commercial’ approach hanging over the songs. Trade Secrets might appeal for a wider audience, which is fine for me, but I prefer a darker and more underground-inspired production.

Conclusion: “Before We Vanish” sounds as a sweet lounge’n’pop production for the Summer.

Best songs: “Wish For The Rest”, “Broken Instincts”.

Rate: (6).

Artist: www.facebook.com/Trade–Secrets-256437681172862

Label: www.distortionprod.com / www.facebook.com/distortionproductions

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

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Genre/Influences: Electronic, lounge-pop.

Background/Info: Trade Secrets released a few productions in the late 90s, but 2017 appears to be the year of resurrection for this formation driven by F.J. DeSanto, John Glenn Kunkel, Mike ‘Ash’ Venezia and Charles LaBarbara. Most of those members are still involved in many other projects. A few guest musicians also contributed to this EP, which more appears to be a mini-album featuring 6 songs.

Content: “Golden Life” is not exactly the kind of work I expected to get released on Distortion Productions. The songs are into groovy sequences and mainly featuring a kind of lounge approach mixed with some elements of pop music. Some passages are quite sensual and especially when joined with some spoken like vocals.

+ + + : The least I can say is that “Golden Life” is a well-crafted piece of music. It also is the kind of sound you can fully enjoy when sitting in a lazy chair and enjoying sunshine and drinking a cocktail in good company. The sensuality running through this work is pleasant. Trade Secrets also reveal the open-minded spectrum of Distortion Productions which has used to get us familiar with other –and more underground-like productions.

– – – : I’m not that convinced this is the right label for Trade Secrets or the right band for the label.

Conclusion: The production is not bad at all, although it feels a bit like going to the movies to watch a horror movie but getting a romantic picture instead.

Best songs: “Deaux”.

Rate: (6).

Label: www.distortionprod.com / www.facebook.com/distortionproductions

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com