The Secret to Life

Last updated

The Secret to Life
The Secret to Life.jpg
Studio album by
Fizz
Released27 October 2023 (2023-10-27)
StudioMiddle Farm (South Devon, England)
Length38:21
Label
Producer
Singles from The Secret to Life
  1. "High in Brighton"
    Released: 2023
  2. "Hell of a Ride"
    Released: 2023
  3. "Close One"
    Released: 2023
  4. "As Good as It Gets"
    Released: 2023
  5. "You, Me, Lonely"
    Released: 2023

The Secret to Life is the debut studio album by the indie pop supergroup Fizz, released on 27 October 2023 by Decca Records and Universal Music Group. It was recorded over a two-week period [1] at Middle Farm Studios in South Devon with Peter Miles. [2]

Contents

In the production of The Secret to Life, the band bypassed many production tools commonly used in contemporary pop music and relied on real instruments and recording live takes of songs directly onto tape. This approach, as discussed in interviews, imparts a nostalgic quality reminiscent of the music of the 1960s and 1970s. [3] [4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
DIY Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]
The Irish Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
The Line of Best Fit 8/10 [8]

The critical reception of The Secret to Life was diverse, reflecting various perspectives on the band's musical style, lyrical content, and overall impact.

The album was lauded as a noteworthy addition to the music scene, being praised for its distinctive sound and cited as a promising debut. [9] The Secret to Life has been characterised as a compelling body of work which resonates with contemporary audiences. [10] and has been commended for its thematic exploration in navigating a balance between reality and make-believe. [11]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Fizz, Peter Miles and Mathew Swales, except where noted

The Secret to Life track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."A New Phase Awaits You :-)" 1:08
2."The Secret to Life" 2:52
3."High in Brighton" 2:51
4."Strawberry Jam" 4:35
5."Close One" 3:55
6."I Just Died" 3:36
7."Rocket League" 0:51
8."Hell of a Ride" 2:59
9."As Good as It Gets" 2:44
10."You, Me, Lonely"
3:40
11."Lights Out" 3:46
12."The Grand Finale" 5:23
Total length:38:21

Personnel

Fizz

Additional musicians

Production

Charts

Chart performance for The Secret to Life
Chart (2023)Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC) [12] 8
UK Albums (OCC) [13] 31

Related Research Articles

<i>Forty Licks</i> 2002 greatest hits album by the Rolling Stones

Forty Licks is a double compilation album by the Rolling Stones. A 40-year career-spanning retrospective, Forty Licks is notable for being the first retrospective to combine their formative Decca/London era of the 1960s, now licensed by ABKCO Records, with their self-owned post-1970 material, distributed at the time by Virgin/EMI but now distributed by ABKCO's own distributor Universal Music Group. Four new songs are included on the second disc. The album was a commercial success, as it reached No. 2 on both UK and US charts. Concurrently with the album's release, the Stones embarked on the successful, year-long international Licks Tour, which would result in the subsequent Live Licks album being released in 2004.

<i>Another Passenger</i> 1976 studio album by Carly Simon

Another Passenger is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Elektra Records, on June 5, 1976.

<i>Made in the Shade</i> 1975 greatest hits album by The Rolling Stones

Made in the Shade, released in 1975, is the fourth official compilation album by the Rolling Stones, and the first under their Atlantic Records contract. It covers material from Sticky Fingers (1971), Exile on Main St. (1972), Goats Head Soup (1973) and It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (1974).

<i>No Secrets</i> (Carly Simon album) 1972 studio album by Carly Simon

No Secrets is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Elektra Records on November 28, 1972.

<i>Evangeline</i> (Emmylou Harris album) 1981 studio album by Emmylou Harris

Evangeline is the eighth studio album by Emmylou Harris. It was composed mostly of leftover material from past recording sessions and which did not fit into any of her other albums. Songs included a remake of "Mister Sandman", "Evangeline", which she had previously performed with The Band, Rodney Crowell's "Ashes By Now", and a cover of John Fogerty's "Bad Moon Rising". Though it received mixed reviews upon its release, the album was yet another commercial success for Harris. It was certified Gold in less than a year after its release. A single release of "Mister Sandman" did well on the charts, though neither Ronstadt's nor Parton's record companies would allow their artists' vocals to be used on the single, so Harris rerecorded the song, singing all three parts for the single release. Rodney Crowell's "I Don't Have to Crawl" was released as the album's second single.

<i>New Harvest...First Gathering</i> 1977 studio album by Dolly Parton

New Harvest...First Gathering is the eighteenth solo studio album by American entertainer Dolly Parton. It was released on February 14, 1977, by RCA Victor. It is significant for being Parton's first self-produced album, as well as her first effort aimed specifically at the pop charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walkin' After Midnight</span> 1957 single by Patsy Cline

"Walkin' After Midnight" is a song written by Alan Block and Don Hecht and recorded by American country music artist Patsy Cline. The song was originally given to pop singer Kay Starr; however, her label rejected it. The song was left unused until Hecht rediscovered it when writing for Four Star Records. Originally Cline was not fond of "Walkin' After Midnight", but after making a compromise with her label she recorded it. However, the first released recording was by Lynn Howard with The Accents, released in August 1956.

<i>Making a Good Thing Better</i> 1977 studio album by Olivia Newton-John

Making a Good Thing Better is the ninth studio album by British-Australian singer Olivia Newton-John, released in June 1977.

<i>Back with a Heart</i> 1998 studio album by Olivia Newton-John

Back with a Heart is the sixteenth studio album by British-Australian singer Olivia Newton-John. It was released by MCA Nashville on 12 May 1998 in the United States. Her first album in four years, it marked her return to country music after two decades. The album peaked in the Top Ten Country charts in both the U.S. and U.K. In America, it was her first album to crack the Billboard Top Country Albums charts since Totally Hot in 1978.

<i>Real Live Woman</i> 2000 album by Trisha Yearwood

Real Live Woman is the eighth studio album by American country music singer Trisha Yearwood, released on March 28, 2000.

<i>This Kind of Love</i> 2008 studio album by Carly Simon

This Kind of Love is the 22nd studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Hear Music, on April 29, 2008.

<i>Heartlight</i> (album) 1982 studio album by Neil Diamond

Heartlight is the fifteenth studio album by Neil Diamond. It was released in August 1982 on Columbia Records. The album spent 34 weeks on the charts and peaked at #9. For shipments of a million copies it was certified Platinum by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orla Gartland</span> Irish singer, songwriter, musician

Orla Gartland is an Irish singer, songwriter and musician. Gartland released her debut album, Woman On The Internet, in 2021, which reached number 3 on the Irish album chart, number 1 on the UK Indie Chart, and number 10 on the UK album chart. Her second album Everybody Needs A Hero came out in October 2024.

<i>Letting Go</i> (Jennifer Knapp album) 2010 studio album by Jennifer Knapp

Letting Go is the sixth studio album by Contemporary Christian music and folk rock singer Jennifer Knapp. The album was released on May 11, 2010, on Graylin Records.

<i>Restless Nights</i> (Karla Bonoff album) 1979 studio album by Karla Bonoff

Restless Nights is the second album by singer/songwriter Karla Bonoff. The album peaked at No. 31 on the Billboard albums chart and number 66 on the Australian Kent Music Report.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dodie</span> English singer and songwriter (born 1995)

Dorothy Miranda Clark, known mononymously as Dodie, is an English singer, songwriter, author and YouTuber. Dodie began her career uploading original songs and covers to YouTube. As of August 2023, her main channel has over 196 videos, over 2.01 million subscribers and over 431.66 million views, and her second channel has over 203 videos, over 882k subscribers and over 100.46 million views.

<i>The Rolling Stones in Mono</i> 2016 box set by The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones in Mono is a box set by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released by ABKCO Records in September 2016. It contains most of the group's British and American studio albums from the 1960s in mono format, on fifteen compact discs or sixteen vinyl records. All tracks were remastered using the Direct Stream Digital process by Bob Ludwig. The original recordings were produced by Andrew Loog Oldham, Jimmy Miller and the Rolling Stones.

<i>Let Them Fall in Love</i> 2017 studio album by CeCe Winans

Let Them Fall in Love is the tenth studio album by American singer CeCe Winans. It was released by PureSprings Gospel on February 3, 2017. The album won the 2018 Grammy Award for Best Gospel Album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dodie discography</span> Artist discography

The discography of British singer-songwriter and YouTuber Dodie consists of one studio album, seven extended plays, 15 singles, and 40 music videos. She has also uploaded multiple original songs and covers to her YouTube channels doddleoddle and doddlevloggle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fizz (band)</span> Alt Prog Rock supergroup

Fizz is an indie pop supergroup from London composed of musicians Orla Gartland, dodie, Greta Isaac and Martin Luke Brown. Their debut studio album, The Secret to Life, was released on 27 October 2023.

References

  1. ↑ Savage, Mark (5 September 2023). "Happiness bottled: Meet indie-pop supergroup Fizz". BBC News . Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  2. ↑ Paine, Andre (16 June 2023). "Decca signs FIZZ featuring chart stars Dodie and Orla Gartland". Music Week . Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  3. ↑ Mylrea, Hannah (16 September 2023). "FIZZ: "This project is an act of rebellion against the industry"". NME .
  4. ↑ Taylor, Ims (24 March 2024). "FIZZ: "WE'RE REALLY BIG ON STORYTELLING BEYOND SONGS"". DIY . Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  5. ↑ "The Secret to Life - FIZZ". AllMusic . Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  6. ↑ Wright, Lisa (13 September 2023). "FIZZ - The Secret To Life". DIY. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  7. ↑ Murphy, Lauren (8 September 2023). "Fizz: The Secret to Life – a burst of engaging pop from a supergroup with a difference". The Irish Times . Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  8. ↑ Chatterton, Caitlin (27 October 2023). "FIZZ: The Secret To Life Review - gleeful rapture". The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  9. ↑ Vicente, Catarina (2 November 2023). "Album Review: The Secret to Life // FIZZ". The Indiependent. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  10. ↑ Gokcemen, Yazzi (3 November 2023). "FIZZ: Finding the Sweet Spot Between Reality and Make-Believe".
  11. ↑ Skeet, Lucy (1 November 2023). "Album Review: The Secret To Life - FIZZ".
  12. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  13. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.