‘The Tree of Knowledge’ is the sort of album that thrives in its expanded lyrical ethos, evoking a cinematic storyline that’s highly thematic as well as sonically rewarding. The record does exactly that, pairing neo-classical influences with haunting Ennio Morricone-esque melodies and an overarching leftfield flair. Hiding behind such a monumental record, we find Berlin-based Saline Grace, the visionary project of composer, multi-instrumentalist and singer Ricardo Hoffman, here accompanied by his wife and long-term bass player, Ines Hoffmann (née Pollok).
From the album, we have been sent a specific single, ‘Rooms To Let’, a crepuscular and ambient-coded cut that moves with leftfield epicness and hypnotic character. The piece is rather intense and urgent, with a kinetic arrangement wrapped in organic instrumentation and a timeless organ. Offman’s vocals feel anthemic and inevitable, heavily resonating thanks to their dark tone and goth-like delivery.
Delving deeper into the philosophical and cinematic storyline that propels the album, we are told: “In the focus of this sinister work stands the modern man; on the one hand, within today’s society, but on the other hand, as an individual discovering the challenges within his lifetime. The single ‘Rooms to Let ‘tells a tale of loneliness in a modern metropolis.” Overall, this is not your average record; it needs time to be digested and a keen, witty imagination, so to speak, to be fully appreciated.
Recommended! Discover ‘Rooms To Let’ now: