专辑简介

If Love is a Religion is like an invitation into the secret, psychic shadows of highly acclaimed and internationally touring singer/songwriter Orit Shimoni. Unlike her other five albums, which, to be fair, are no walk-in-the-sunshine, this haunting collection of six songs sonically leans less on the pretty side of roots and more toward the grit of things, with electric instead of acoustic guitar providing an atmospheric thread of rawness, both powerful and intensely delicate, and with some of Berlin and Australia’s finest adding instrumental and vocal layers.

Initially recorded with Australian co-producer Dugald Jayes during her first year living in Berlin (2009/2010), Orit describes feeling a combination of defiance and desperation, tapping into the down-and-out vibe of a city buried under the weight of heavy history, and into her own personal experiences with war. The project was put aside for a few years while Shimoni released albums 3, 4, and 5, with her sensing that it wasn’t yet the right moment for sharing it. Jayes, believing in the project, continued his side of production in Melbourne, where he recruited more musicians to add texture. And still, Orit waited.

And then , says Shimoni, the songs just “asked” to be released. It was time. With the help of Chris Lastelle, Orit had the songs mixed one final time on a recent return to Berlin, and chose, from the whole collection, six to present. If Love is a Religion is a twenty minute sonic and lyrical journey that will leave you with much to reflect about intellectually, while your heart and soul are carried by the emotional expression typical of Shimoni’s work.

Orit continues to tour across Canada and Europe with no fixed address, playing solo performances as well as shows with regional musicians.