Soshi Takeda - Secret Communication

A Closer Listen

It’s still over a month away from the winter solstice – the shortest day of the year. Of course, you might be in the southern hemisphere and roll your eyes at that introduction. But given the majority of our readers are in Europe and the USA, let’s stay with it. Perhaps you enjoy the season – even post-Halloween, you are still excited by the fallen leaves and the nights drawing in. Dig out your favourite jumpers and scarves, start watching a carefully curated list of movies, dip into the new Cure album, or select something from our recent article on Autumn Albums. It’s a good excuse to lean into your introverted side and stay indoors.

On the other hand, you might not be feeling that way at all. The 4pm twilight may not appeal; the leaves underfoot may tend towards mushy rather than crunchy. The sun’s brief appearances may not be enough. You need something to brighten the mood. In that case, look no further than Soshi Takeda’s Secret Communication, the musical equivalent of sun-drenched streets, whitewashed houses and the light glittering off the Mediterranean Sea. This, fittingly, has all the ingredients that may see it become a Balearic favourite in future years – the arrangements are blissful and jazz-adjacent, while the tempo is brisk enough to get you out of the sun-lounger.

Secret Communication is a record that feels weightless as it just glides along without any sense of friction to hold its motion back. The bass lines propel, as the drums shuffle, showing as much personality as they can within a programmed 4/4 beat. The percussion gives it a slight Latin feel, while the lead instruments channel a jazzy element into the compositions – a vibraphone here, a piano solo there. The result is a six-track suite that doesn’t put a foot wrong and will transport the listener away from whatever may be out there. It’s an album that is boundlessly uplifting, so if life seems bleak and gloomy (and it may not just be the weather), Secret Communication will usher you for a short time into a place of sunshine, joy and eternal optimism. (Jeremy Bye)