‘The Dragon’
The Secret Storm (self-released)
4 stars out of 5
Lauren Hoffman had carved out a respectable career for herself over the past two decades, with a handful of well-received indie pop releases. Not content to rest on her laurels, Hoffman adopted the musical nom de plum The Secret Storm and took things in new direction with terrific EP “The Dragon.”
“I’ve never felt good about recording under my own name,” Hoffman explains. “The ‘Lauren Hoffman’ that shows up on the credit card receipt at the grocery store and the ‘Lauren Hoffman’ who shows up on Spotify just felt like two very different things. Working under the name The Secret Storm creates this psychological distinction between me as a person and the work itself. It’s liberating.”
Hoffman lays bare her soul on this dynamic (but sadly too short) four-track, 14-minute release. The one-two opening punch “Fast Lane” and personal favorite “Sick With Love” lift the lid on “The Dragon,” and The Secret Storm also shine on “Feel It All” and the set-closing title track. Highly recommended. (Jeffrey Sisk)
Pittsburgh In Tune 