„Secret Garden“ is Jamie Hill & Peter Ray‘s first collaborative album release. It‘s Hill‘s debut CD after her guest appearance on Ray‘s earlier record „444“. The album is about identity, the search for oneself and the beginning of artistic freedom. Sometimes you have to leave conventions behind, try out new ways and listen to your inner voice, follow the wrong path, look back, restart and thus find your true self again. What if your world is shaking and your hunger for life becomes so enormous that you have to overcome boundaries? You will need courage and a slight portion of madness to not lose your way. The secret garden is the one place, where we can be our true selves. It‘s fragile though, and whoever leaves, might get lost.
„Secret Garden“ is as versatile as life. Spheric sounds invite you to let your mind float, while the rhythm is pulsating in your veins and electric guitars take it straight forward. The harmonic vocals are catchy, sometimes smooth, sometimes powerful. Indie-pop-rock with elements of rockabilly, swing, blues, folk und americana.
Songs such as the folky track „Open Up“, the mysterious sound of „Peace Of Mind“, or the bluesy „Shy Girl“ are about the turns of life that can throw you off course. You become estranged from yourself and it takes detours, wrong tracks and inner fights to slowly find yourself again. The groovy song „More“ is a pure zest for life and liberation. „Kick Ass“ is a vocal expression of thanks to those who never give up on you and don‘t hesitate to kick up the backside when you have stopped to believe in yourself. But has the love of your life given up, it takes „His Hymn“ to activate higher powers. „37°C“ gets under one‘s skin and sets us with spheric sounds free from our restlessness that makes us search somewhere in the great wide open for our little piece of happiness. „Heartbeat“ deals winkingly with the partly bizarre forms of modern communication that seem to promise happiness.
„Secret Garden“ (release date: 02/19/2016) was recorded by Hill & Ray in their own studio in Berlin, Germany. All instruments were played solely by them to create the duo‘s specific sound. No sample-based computer gimmicks were used, making sure that in spite of the bright variety of styles their significant sound signature will always show – on the album as well as on stage.
Especially when it comes to vocals their differences come to light: Hill‘s voice sometimes takes on country style, then it appeares rather smooth or dreamy. Ray sounds rougher and dirtier. They complement each other and form a harmonic-eclectic entity.
With depth, great melodies and their very own style Hill & Ray carry us off into their „Secret Garden“, that makes you want to linger there. The many facets of sound and lyrics keeps you discover new aspects and form some enjoyment for your mind, gut as well as your ears.
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