A Secret Is a Poisonous Snake

Released on December 12, 2012, 'A Secret Is a Poisonous Snake' represents a peak in Ten and Tracer's exploration of tape-degraded IDM. Spanning 19 tracks, the album functions as a long-form meditation on the intersection of digital precision and analog imperfection. The artist, Jonathan ‘Ten’ Lee, utilizes micro-cassettes and reel-to-reel recorders not just as a filter, but as a primary instrument, allowing the physical limitations of the medium to dictate the timing and texture of the compositions. While the track titles often lean toward the surreal or whimsical, the music itself is deeply earnest and melancholic. It sits alongside the work of artists like Boards of Canada or Casino Versus Japan but maintains a more granular, glitch-focused approach. The album is notable for its length and consistency, maintaining a specific 'dusty' sonic palette throughout its 70-minute runtime, making it a definitive document of the artist's signature style.