Independently produced and released, Secrets About Us is the debut album for the Calgarian electronic artist Krystle Love B. Her signature blend of guitar and synthesizers is versatile and interesting, lending itself equally well to both the acoustic feeling of songs such as “Memories on Paper,” and the more hypnotic and slick tracks like “I’ve Been Dreaming” and “There She Goes.”
Krystle Love B’s vocals have a similar range, moving between an eerie, lighter-than-air feel to an earthy melodic croon. Her voice sounds so sincere in the more acousticly focused “Memories on Paper” that it is almost a shame to have it processed so heavily on the album’s other tracks. However, the vocal effects never reach the point where they feel overdone. That is one of the most striking things about Secrets About Us — it is an incredibly well-produced album and a real treat to hear.
Although it is generally wise not to judge books by their covers, this album’s artwork is a bit of an exception — the heart shaped ‘o’ in the artist’s name betrays the major flaw of the album. While Krystle Love B does push some musical boundaries on Secrets About Us, the lyrics are fairly typical pop fare. Even the moody “Picture Not Perfect” comes off a bit simplistic and cliched. Though this saccharine naivete might be endearing to some, it may remind more curmudgeonly listeners of reading through a 14-year-old’s diary.
Despite Krystle Love B’s stellar voice, the album’s strongest tracks are the ones with the least emphasis on the vocals, due to unfortunate lyrics. The notable exception to this was “Fields,” a song that manages to maintain the rest of the album’s light-hearted feel while simultaneously displaying a much more mature level of song writing.
Ultimately, Secrets About Us is well-produced and smooth, but lacks the edge needed to make it a truly great electronic album. It is the kind of listening that lends itself well to the summer — you are guaranteed to dance like hell to it, just don’t listen too closely to the lyrics.