Secret Space – The Window Room Pt. 2; Lost in a Dream
By Annette Hansen
Last summer up-and-comers Secret Space released their debut full-length album, The Window Room. With it, they introduced the world to a sound that is charmingly atmospheric and tinged with infectious hooks. In 2017, the band are forgoing the usual “album-tour-album” grind and unleashing The Window Room Part 2; Lost in a Dream into the world. The new release, which the band is releasing for free, offers a new, stripped down perspective to their debut.
The Window Room Part 2; Lost in a Dream features four re-imagined tracks from their debut album, as well as three b-side tracks and two covers. While the original versions of the songs from The Window Room offer an electrical, emotional charge, these bare-bones remakes show the songs from a slightly different angle. The newer versions are raw, acoustic guitar and piano-laced renditions that peel back the production and showcase the melody and lyrics.
There are definitely tracks that this works better on than others. The piano driven “I’ll Come Around” and “Beyond the Display” were particularly intriguing, really offering a new, simplified perspective that is distinct enough from the originals. But while the Secret Space’s covers of Weezer’s “Butterfly” and Smashing Pumpkins’ “Stumbleine” and the reworked tracks give listeners a new outlook on something that they’ve heard, they’re not the most interesting part of this release. Honestly, it’s the laid back and somewhat melancholy b-sides that seemed the most striking.
For listeners seeking more from their experience of listening to The Window Room, this part two will be a pleasant surprise both for what it’s expanded on and what it’s added to Secret Space’s body of work.
Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Recommended Tracks: “I’ll Come Around” and “Safety Not Guaranteed”
