User:Wilmer wolf/sandbox

In the early nineteen eighties singer/ guitarist/ songwriter Wilmer Wolf and bassplayer Chip Visser had been working on a dozen songs for about a year before they finally found a suitable drummer called Toni Peroni. The three young men decided to call themselves Secret Sounds adding the Secret adjective to the rather basic Sounds. They soon became one of Holland's most promising new wave bands building themselves a solid reputation playing all over the country. Secret Sounds released a debut mini album. Excusez Moi in 1983 on their own Guilty Records label, showcasing their brand of upbeat pop songs blended with reggae, motown and funk grooves. To confirm their stage worth the 6 track vinyl featured 2 live recordings. For their following first full album Wasteland they added keyboards to the production and Gert van Veen (who later became the driving force of Quazar, the first dutch House pioneers) joined forces on synthesizers. When Toni and Gert went on to pursue his own careers, Secret Sounds had to re-invent themselves. Flamboyant new dummer Jean Monsou gave them a new impulse. Jean and Wilmer started composing together thus broadening the band's musical scope and palete. Gradually the Secret Sounds mach II sound matured, became darker and deeper with Jean's driving tight beats and Chip's inventive bass lines underlining Wolf's chords & lyrics. Though often supported by extra musicians, most prominently keyboard players like Willy Huisman and later George van Olffen, the band remained a drum/bass/guitar trio at the heart. Through the years bloodbrother Igor van Zaalen, and in their final year Angeline Bonette joined in on extra vocals live and on record. The single Promises released by CBS in 1986 was their most successful in terms of radio play, but failed to score. Returning to Wisseloord Studio's with faithful producer Michiel Hoogenboezem, the last recorded single "Is It Love" remains unreleased. Although Secret Sounds live reputation always remained solid, the lack of commercial success finally broke up the band in 1987. They remained an inspiration to many new dutch groups in the 80's as one of the first dutch new wave/ do-it-yourself bands, the first pop band in the Netherlands to experiment with dubs and remixes on 12" records. Members of the band spread out to groups like Time Bandits, Moonflower, The Secret Combination and Roccoman. Wilmer Wolf went on to work as producer and engineer. Secret Sounds remastered music was digital released on iTunes, Bandcamp, Amazon etc since may 2013. Fall 2014 The Complete Remasters volumes 0 to 8 will be released in a very limited Boxed CD edition.