Secret Shine
| Company type | Indie band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | early 1990s |
| Founder | Scott Purnell, Jamie Gingell |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Secret Shine is an indie band from the United Kingdom, established in the early 1990s and initially affiliated with Sarah Records. Their sound transitioned from early pop influences to a shoegaze style by the time of their 1992 album Untouched, earning them comparisons to bands such as Slowdive and My Bloody Valentine.
1990–1996
The group originally performed under the name Amelia's Dream. Founders Scott Purnell and Jamie Gingell secured a contract with Sarah Records after submitting a demo tape. Their debut single, "After Years," was released, and the band expanded to include Nick Dyte, Dean Purnell, and Paul Vowles. They issued the track "Unbearable" through the German label A Turntable Friend, followed by "Ephemeral" on Sarah Records after Dean Tyler joined. The Untouched album was composed of demos recorded by Purnell and Gingell.
With the 1993 release of Untouched and the single "Loveblind," along with the addition of vocalist Kathryn Smith, Secret Shine gained traction on the Indie charts and within the shoegaze community. After taking a short break due to university commitments, they returned with the Greater than God EP.
Subsequent to releasing the Each to the Other flexidisc, Tyler and Dyte left the band; Tim Morris then joined as drummer. The ensemble—Gingell (vocals/bass), Scott Purnell (guitars), Dean Purnell (guitars), Smith (vocals), and Morris—released "Wasted Away" on Spoiler Records following Sarah Records' closure. Although they stopped performing live after a 1996 concert in Oxford, the band never formally disbanded.
2004–present
In 2004, Tonevendor released After Years, a compilation featuring their Sarah Records material including Untouched, which led to their reunion. Following Tim Morris’s passing, they produced an acoustic tribute album titled Morris.
They subsequently released All of The Stars in April 2008 and The Beginning and the End in January 2011.
In October 2014, Secret Shine signed with Saint Marie Records, a label specializing in shoegaze and dream pop genres. Their album There Is Only Now was issued in March 2017.
On 25 June 2020, the band independently released the single "Ember," planned as the first installment in a series of five singles culminating in a new album scheduled for 2021 to celebrate their 30th anniversary. This was followed by another single, "Empyrean," in September 2021.
Albums
| Title | Label and cat# | Date | Format(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Untouched | Sarah 615 | March 1993 | LP, CD |
| After Years | Tonevendor | February 2004 | CD |
| Morris – Acoustic Tribute Album | None | May 2005 | CD |
| All of the Stars | Clairecords FERN074 | April 2008 | CD |
| The Beginning and the End | Secret Shine shine01 (Self-Released) | January 2011 | CD |
| There Is Only Now | Saint Marie Records | March 2017 | LP, CD |
EPs
| Title | Label and cat# | Date | Format(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| After Years | Sarah 53 | September 1991 | 7" |
| Greater than God | Sarah 89 | May 1994 | 10" & CD |
| Elemental | Razorblade RZ01 | February 2006 | CD |
| Beyond Sea and Sky | Razorblade RZ03 | October 2006 | CD |
Singles
| Title | Label and catalog number | Release date | Available format(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Unbearable" "My Only Friend" |
A Turntable Friend 007 | September 1991 | 7-inch |
| "Ephemeral" – "Honey Sweet" "Secret Shine" |
Sarah 61 | April 1992 | 7-inch |
| "Loveblind" "Way Too High" "Honey Sweet" (CD exclusive) |
Sarah 71 | April 1993 | 7-inch and CD |
| "Wasted Away" "Wish Coming True" |
Spoiler SSS001 | February 1995 | 7-inch |
| "Each Time" "Anything About Me" |
self-released | July 2014 | 7-inch |
| "Ember" | self-released | June 2020 | Digital download, streaming platforms |
| "Empyrean" | self-released | September 2021 | Digital download, streaming platforms |
Tracks on compilations
| Compilation title | Label and catalog number | Included track(s) |
|---|---|---|
| There and Back Again Lane | Sarah 100 | "Temporal" |
| Battery Point | Sarah 359 | "Deep Thinker" |
| Gaol Ferry Bridge | Sarah 530 | "Loveblind" |
| Fountain Island | Sarah 583 | "Grey Skies" |
| Engine Common | Sarah 628 | "Honey Sweet" |
| In This Place Called Nowhere | Quattro 2011, Sarah Japan | "After Years" |
| La rue du chat qui peche | Quattro 2024, Sarah Japan | "Loveblind" "Temporal" |
| 'Birth of the True' | 'Sugarfrost Frosty2' | 'Take me Slowly' |
| 'Test Tones Vol. 1.1' | 'Clairecords FERN 035' | 'Way Too High' |
| 'Dear Future' | 'King Records KICM 3239' | 'Dear Future' |