It was hardly a surprise that the follow-up to M's debut album didn't contain a song as groundbreaking as "Pop Muzik" -- or a tune that was anywhere near as big a hit as his one and only global chart-topper. Instead of trying to duplicate that near-perfect slice of electro, M (aka Robin Scott) veered off in several directions, exploring a slightly rockier sound as well as a fair amount of experimental noodling. The core band is the same as on New York, London, Paris, Munich -- including future Level 42 frontman Mark King, keyboardist Wally Badarou, and session saxman supreme Gary Barnacle -- but the looser arrangements here give them more room to stretch out (sometimes too much), and they get occasional help from strings and even Uillean pipes. Yet if the sound of Official Secrets Act isn't quite as futuristic as its predecessor, Scott's lyrics preach pure sci-fi paranoia, heavily Orwell-ian and as obsessed with corporations and governments as Big Brothers. When the tunes are good, and a few are, it all makes for entertaining theater; "Official Secrets" jumbles synths and guitars into the sort of colorful, surprise-filled mix Scott was a master at assembling, and the suave French synth pop of "Abracadabra" is equally appealing. It's the meandering atmospherics of cuts like "Transmission" and "Mayday" that frustrate; the deliberately uninvolved sound suggests Scott was determined to run as far away as possible from his Top 40 success. Which he ended up doing, but the more focused efforts here show he didn't have to. Collectors note: The 1997 reissue of the album contains six bonus tracks that feature frequent M collaborator Brigit Novic, including a couple of keyboard-heavy keepers. ~ Dan LeRoy, All Music Guide
Tracks
Track Title
Composers
Performers
Time
Transmission
Robin Scott
(4:28)
Join the Party
Robin Scott
(3:40)
Working for the Corporation
Robin Scott
(3:34)
Your Country Needs You
Robin Scott
(3:23)
Mayday
Robin Scott
(5:22)
Relax
Robin Scott
(3:46)
Maniac
Robin Scott
(3:20)
Keep It to Yourself
Robin Scott
(3:33)
Abracadabra
Robin Scott, Brigitte Novik
(2:52)
Official Secrets
Robin Scott
(6:04)
Abracadabra [Sunset-Sunrise Mix][*]
Robin Scott
(2:49)
Danube [*]
Robin Scott, Brigitte Novik
(3:34)
The Wedding Dance [*]
Robin Scott, Brigitte Novik
(3:37)
Mambo La [*]
(2:29)
Don't Believe What the Papers Say [*]
Robin Scott
(1:12)
The Bride of Fortune [*]
Robin Scott
(4:18)
Credits
Wally Badarou (Synthesizer), Wally Badarou (Keyboards), Mark King (Bass), Mark King (Guitar), Mark King (Drums), M (Main Performer), Paddy Keenan (Pipe), Paddy Keenan (Uillean Pipes), Mog Aherne (Vocals), Pete Ashworth (Photography), David Aston (Engineer), Gary Barnacle (Saxophone), Gary Barnacle (Wind), Denis Blackham (Vocals), Denis Blackham (Engineer), Bill Brown (Vocals), Deirdrie Costello (Vocals), Phil Gould (Drums), Simon Hayworth (Remastering), John Keogh (Vocals), Julian Scott (Bass), Robin Scott (Guitar), Robin Scott (Vocals), Robin Scott (Producer), Robin Scott (Photography), Desi Smith (Vocals), Brigit Vinchon (Vocals), David Vorhaus (Synthesizer), Bill Whelan (String Arrangements), Brigit Novic (Vocals), Philip Begley (Engineer), Jean Baptiste Mondino (Photography), Nigel Bates (Engineer), Jon Storey (Remixing), Kevin Killan (Engineer)
The Official Secrets Act is M's second album, released in 1980 on MCA Records.. The track "Official Secrets" was released as a single and charted in the UK at No. 64 in November 1980. The follow up single was "Keep It To Yourself". The Track "Maniac" featured Phil Gould on drums and Mark King on Bass. They would go on to form the successful Brit-funk band "Level 42", who are still touring, in one form or another today.
"Transmission (the world is at your fingertips)" – 4:30
"Join the Party" – 3:39
"Working for the Corporation" – 3:35
"Your Country Needs You" – 3:20
"M'aider" – 5:26
Side two
"Relax" – 3:42
"Maniac" – 3:22
"Keep it to Yourself" – 3:34
"Abracadabra" – 2:51
"Official Secrets" – 6:03
1997 Westside CD Reissue: WESM 502
"Transmission" – 4:30
"Join the Party" – 3:39
"Working for the Corporation" – 3:35
"Your Country Needs You" – 3:20
"Mayday" – 5:26
"Relax" – 3:42
"Maniac" – 3:22
"Keep it to Yourself" – 3:34
"Abracadabra" – 2:51 (1)
"Official Secrets" – 6:03
"Abracadabra (Sunset–Sunrise Mix) – 2:51
"Danube" – 3:33 (1)
"The Wedding Dance" – 3:37 (1)
"Mambo La" – 2:29 (2)
"Don't Believe What the Papers Say" – 1:12
"The Bride of Fortune" – 4:20 (3)
All tracks written by Robin Scott except, (1) "Abracadabra", "Danube" & "The Wedding Dance" written by Scott/Novik (2) "Mambo La" written by Unknown (3) "The Bride of Fortune" written by Scott/Westwood
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
