Krill Through Baleen

Secrets in the Salt is a four-piece new wave band based in Portland, Oregon. The band's sound ranges from organ-driven pop songs (a la Blondie and Elvis Costello) to raucous, yet cerebral post punk numbers in the vein of bands like Joy Division and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The band's inception came about in August 2006, initially as an acoustic shoegaze project between vocalist Grant Burgess and guitarist Neil Loehlein. Secrets in the Salt became a full band with the addition of drummer Ty Phelps in early 2007, followed shortly by bassist Daniel Austin. Since then, the group has gone fully electric and boasts over 20 original songs and a few crowd pleasing cover songs from the likes of David Bowie and Radiohead. Individual songs go through a variety of sections, while minor key themes and choppy, punctuated rhythms add diverse interest and hooks to the pop-oriented sound. Obscure but accessible lyrics complete the Secrets' unique character: a dynamic mix of musical textures interplayed throughout fun, witty songs with a throwback sound and lots of energy. Secrets in the Salt released it's debut EP, "Krill Through Baleen" on January 8th, 2009, to a crowd of 60 excited fans. AP Kryza of the Willamette Week describes the Secrets thus, "Onstage, the band gradually burrows it's songs into the eardrums, making them impossible to stop humming...[T]he band looks to be on the right path to becoming a pleasing burr in our ears". The band is currently seeking more ears to become burrs in.