BIOGRAPHY

Secret Exhibition is Tom Cunliffe’s third album and a return to the warm acoustic sounds of his early songs. Built on nylon strings and creaky pianos, it has the feel of a candle lit room at 3am. This is for people who stay up talking, long after the last tired dance.

It is a departure from the boisterous jangle-rock of 2018’s Template for Love. Tom’s sophomore record was created in kahoots with the Yarra Benders (Marlon Williams’ bandmates) and saw him touring New Zealand then Europe, before the world shut down in early 2020.

Like many others, Tom used isolation to good effect, and emerged from lockdown with a new album. Combining lyrical imagination and fine-tuned melodies, Secret Exhibition tiptoes through different genres. One moment might seem to be anchored in the 60s folk scene, while others find a kindred spirit in John Cale’s 70s chamber pop, or Bill Callahan’s contemplative alt/country.

Produced by Dave Khan, the album was recorded over five days at The Lab. Eamon Edmundson-Wells brought his expertise on upright bass and Tom Broome took the role of time keeper on the drums.

Secret Exhibition is an explorers record. A gallery of worlds – from marble museums, to Venetian tides and the rings of Saturn – held together like paintings in 3-minute frames.