MP3DB.pro - The Prayer Tree - The Prayer Tree (2010)

The prayer tree is an asian tradition consisting of a tree with
metal branches upon which people can put written prayers. it
also refers to a small temple in downtown tokyo, a centenarian
tree that has been saved from destruction and where people
regularly come to pray or make offerings. the idea behind it is
the one of quietness in the midst of noise. itÆs the kind of
little spaces that offer you a place to rest, to think, to
meditate while surrounded by the ever so growing agitation of
our cities. yet the idea is not the one of a 'struggle' between
noise and silence. it is not quietness versus noise, but
quietness and noise co-existing. guillaume eluerd and jerome
chassagnard have been known in the electronic music scene for
years. chassagnard as a member of ab ovo and as a solo artist.

Eluerd records under his own name and with his musical project
nimp. together they have formed the prayer tree, and their first
self titled album is now seeing the light of day. with this
project, the prayer tree typify the gift of silence and recovery
in eight songs of sheer beauty and slight melancholy. redemption
is a prevalent theme - through a journey/physical way (tokyo,
silent stones), through technology (ubik), through experiencing
a book (new york) or in a religious sense (all those who just
couldnÆt make it, the golden hour). most of the songs refer to a
moment, a fragment of time where your life has changed and/or
you take the decision to change it for the better. these are
pictures of thoughts, contemplation of yourself and of your
surrounding. as a whole, the album is the musical equivalent of
the enjoyment of these moments while having a taste of true
happiness (at least for a little while). with this release the
prayer tree present an album of quiet, introspection but also an
album of strong and inventive songs. eluerd's poetic lyrics are
set to a brilliant variety of subtle, colourful arrangements
while acoustic and electronic instruments interact perfectly
with a mellow voice. one can simply bathe in the lush sensuality
of the instruments and compositions. give it a listen, you will
not regret it.