Secret Rendezvous choose presence on “In Between Dreams,” a self-produced Indie R&B exhale.
Picture a late tram gliding past the Amsterdam canals, its windows fogging while strangers trade brave hopes; that’s the feeling Secret Rendezvous bottle on “In Between Dreams,” a record about choosing joy after turbulence and learning to breathe in the pause between life goals. The duo’s freedom is audible: tempos lope, synths radiate body heat, and the songwriting reclaims intimacy without shrinking from doubt. Indeed, this set smiles with its shoulders—relaxed yet alert—finding motion not from spectacle but from confidence. Between family dreams and musical ambitions, they choose presence; the songs honor that decision. The result is a self-possessed Indie R&B suite that invites you to loosen the jaw and let the day soften at the edges.
The palette is deliciously handcrafted. Everything here is self-produced, with their regular band slipping in like trusted friends and Jeffrey de Gans adding a final, polished hush in mastering. Moreover, the influence constellation—Prince’s elegance, Minnie Riperton’s air, the Isley Brothers’ satin glide, plus modern fibers from Victoria Monét, Cleo Sol, and Tame Impala—never overwhelms the fabric. In fact, what’s striking is how distinctly they sound like Secret Rendezvous: warm synths that hum, playful grooves with just-right swing, and arrangements that prefer conversation over monologue. The drums are soft-spoken yet articulate; guitars flicker; basslines move with patient purpose. In addition, transitions bloom rather than snap, letting breath and micro-silence do emotional work.
Lyrically, the writing keeps circling love’s forked road: romance versus self-possession, future plans versus present tenderness, the domestic dream versus the artistic call. Yet the tone avoids melodrama. The phrasing favours candid confession over grandstanding, often sketching an image and letting the rhythm finish the sentence. However, there’s a minor trade-off: the vocal delivery—soulful and stable—can flatten melodically at peaks where a braver contour might have lifted a hook higher. Nevertheless, the performances feel human and emotionally legible, and the choruses earn their keep through texture and pocket rather than raw volume.
A brief track-by-track pulse check:
“In Between Dreams” floats on tender riffs, tranquil bass, and ethereal harmonies—serenity as thesis. “Feels So Good (Don’t It)” kicks up a grin: groovy bass, funky guitar, exuberant sax. “Mutual” settles mid-tempo, piano and flickering guitar cradling radiant harmonies. “Two Faced Lover” rides a feel-good pocket, synth-kissed and bass-driven. “Crush” is the earworm—laid-back drums, spacey keys, a flirty, unhurried hook. “Say The Word” drapes bossa-nova breeze over indie-R&B warmth, a hammock of percussion. “Scandalous” struts on R&B-funk chassis with a pop wink. “Cold Shoulder” cools the lights: late-night hip-hop undertow and smooth vocal poise. “Sober” steadies the room—clean guitar, relaxed drums, honest reckoning. “Onto Something” whispers compassion: subdued groove, hushed harmonies, a final steadiness.
Altogether the project’s vibe feels like a summer afternoon that refuses to hurry your evening. The arrangements understand negative space; hooks don’t crowd, bridges don’t grandstand, and the rhythm section behaves like a good host—always topping up the glass, never forcing another round. Self-reliance matters: you hear decisions made for feeling, not for algorithms. Indeed, a few riskier melodic climbs could have quickened the pulse, yet the center of gravity is unmistakable—warmth, patience, clarity. Moreover, the flow is unhurried but never sleepy, sequenced so celebration loosens the shoulders, doubt clears its throat, then assurance takes over. In the end, “In Between Dreams” is a love letter to breathing room—mature without jaded edges, affectionate without stickiness, stylish without costume. If you need an Indie R&B record that lets you exhale and still keeps curiosity awake, Secret Rendezvous have made one—steady as that tram gliding home.
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