This album creates powerful images. Music between longing and mystery, between elaborate electronics and beguiling pop moments - produced with Depeche Mode creative partner Christian Eigner.
Hard beats thunder out of the darkness, a threatening storm is brewing. But then a soft voice floats above the electronic rhythm, the clouds break open, light penetrates the mysterious mood. Suddenly the beats turn into a driving groove, another voice joins in, the screen widens, a feeling between hope and melancholy becomes tangible - until the gloomy beats come back again, more vehement than before. "Red Sun," the opening track of ROIA's new album "Hint of Light," sets the mood perfectly to reveal the record's soundscape that is as poignant as it is yearning. "No fences here / We burnt them all down," reads the lyrics. This is how ROIA sets sail for a journey where there are no boundaries.
ROIA's sixth album was created with prominent support: Christian Eigner, longtime tour drummer for Depeche Mode and songwriting partner of their singer Dave Gahan, co-produced the new songs and also played the drums as well as numerous other instruments such as vintage synthesizers or dulcimer. "It feels a bit like giving your baby away," says ROIA musician Paul Hochrainer about the decision to add a new person to the core trio he forms with singers Nina Hochrainer and Dorian Wimmer.
Christian Eigner was already enthusiastic about the new ROIA songs on first hearing: "There is an insane amount of talent gathered in this band," he says. "Christian showed energy and enthusiasm, like a young man in the recording studio," recalls Hochrainer, and Eigner returns the compliment: "It was also the perfect playground to which I was invited. I met the band at a moment when they wanted to be surprised. And the collaboration was the easiest thing in the world - everything I did fit there one-to-one, just the way it should be.“
Eigner's involvement makes the comparison to Depeche Mode obvious, of course, and indeed the songs sometimes breathe the spirit of the influential synth band - such as "Thin Line," one of the first joint productions with Eigner, in which a dark foundation gradually builds up to a hypnotic groove. And yet, in its interplay of light and shadow, ROIA's sound is all its own. "We think in scenes and images. They are stories that unfold," singer Nina Hochrainer explains the band's approach. "Because this dramaturgy is important to us, the songs also don't follow the usual forms of verses and choruses." Singer Dorian Wimmer agrees, "Our songs aren't quite as easy to digest as others - simply because they don't always fulfill the obvious expectations, but take different paths."
All 13 songs of "Hint of Light" draw intense atmospheric pictures full of surprises and moving moments. The earthy beat of the opulent wide screen song "Blue" is contrasted by almost sacred choirs, while the delicate piano ballad "Up in Smoke" develops into an indulgent hymn. Alongside, "The Crumbs You Left" drives forward with rocking energy, while the surreal "Sirens" guides into a weightless state. The journey leads past strange and sometimes gloomy places like in the claustrophobic "Year Without June", but again and again ROIA breaks free from the ground and strives towards the light, which becomes tangible not only in the album title. Then the listener is carried away by the beguiling melodies of a song like "French Gown" or follows the hesitantly progressing "Cover the Dust" into a sudden jazz part - playful and completed with a ravishing flugelhorn solo.
'Hint of Light' - Lyrics
And you’re feeling safe like the other day.
And you’re feeling brave,
Feeling that my heart’s on fire.
I’m feeling that my heart’s on hold,
Plain and simple.
Turn myself inside out.
Get myself back to the beginning,
I’m spinning.
Red moon rising
And you’re feeling brave like the other day.
The sky went clear the day I broke your heart.
No fences here – we burnt them all down.
The air is thick and my clothing sticks to my skin
And you’re feeling safe like the other day.
Feeling that my heart’s on fire.
I’m feeling that my heart’s so cold.
Feeling that my heart’s on hold.
Defying,
Endlessly flying,
I’m diving.
The sky went clear the day I broke your heart.
No fences here – we burnt them all down.
Fill me up with all the joy.
I probably should use all my senses
But operate on hope alone.
Help us if you’re still engaged here.
Help us if you hear my prayer like a broken record.
Can’t you see my world is spinning around you?
You just don’t care.
I’m aware this is a moment of silence,
This is the moment of truth,
I am hoping that you’re still engaged here.
Help us if you hear my prayer.
You just don’t care.
On a one-way ride.
Crash into the water where you love to be.
We’re on a one-way ride - You just don’t care.
It’s all about tomorrow.
Stuck in this moment I can barely move.
Find myself in sorrow
It’s all about tomorrow.
Oh, you cast your shadow on me when it shines so bright.
In a hurry, I’m in a hurry.
In a hurry, seeing blurry.
Caught in this moment I am barely free.
I am about to make you stay here.
Cover the dust, cover it all.
But in a bright light we won’t be found.
Yes in a bright light we’ll keep it safe.
Yes in a bright light we won’t be seen.
We won’t be caught.
And in a bright light we won’t be found.
Yes in a bright light we won’t be caught.
Yes in a bright light we won’t be seen.
We won’t be found.
I can’t remember when I started to move.
Am I overwhelmed?
Blown away?
It’s hard to tell because I am away.
Can you tell me when we started to live this way,
When it got out of hand?
At the drop of a hat we were falling apart.
Like an empty house,
Overfilled with broken vows.
And I am away.
I’m aware I’m away.
Rush into madness while your words surround me.
Rush into sadness though your words embrace me.
I can’t explain the change of heart.
Like an empty house,
Overfilled with broken vows.
I am knocking, well, kind of crashing at your door.
Well, kind of smashing at your door.
I am kind of breaking your door.
Well, it got out of hand and I am away.
I’m aware I’m away.
Can you tell me when you started to break away?
Can you tell me why it started to heal?
Am I overwhelmed?
Blown away?
It’s hard to tell.
Standing in high grass and admiring the sky.
Some rocks you don’t turn over.
I’m humming along with music
Standing on your lawn
And I’m wondering why.
Some rocks you don’t turn over.
The world is falling down
Like a pretty French gown
From your shoulder.
I should have left in time.
This is some freakish twist of irony.
You’re close to me, so close to me.
Well, this is some freakish twist of irony.
You’re finally too close to me.
I’m humming along with music.
I try to close my eyes
Still I’m watching the sky.
Some rocks you don’t turn over.
I’m not hiding
I am over here. You know me, undeniably.
I’m caught in here.
I’ll give my all just to be with you.
I’ve got to have you with me.
You both cause and soothe the pain inside of me.
Oh and silently I am stealing away,
Leaving secretly
And where I appear
You are already there.
I won’t let you hold on to me and drag me down.
I won’t let you hold on to me and wrap me up.
Why don’t you come out, babe?
A life in chiffon.
Another whiskey, hit me!
Life is drifting away.
Wrap me up.
Oh and silently I am shifting over,
Falling silently
And where I end up
You are already there.
Pull my finger off the trigger
And then see what remains.
I won’t let you hold on to me and drag me down.
I won’t let you get away.
Why don’t you come out?
Live a life in chiffon.
Another whiskey hit me
And life is drifting away.
I turn my head upside down and the smoke burns in the eyes.
Fall into place – I fall into you.
Glass beneath our feet – only way to walk.
We move forwards and roll back.
I turn my head upside down.
It seems the smoke is gonna clear.
Things will fall into place.
In an act of silence I simplify the way I wanna feel, feeling less weak.
Forever, for now and for good. Forever I’d stay if I could.
It lies beneath our feet.
I fall into a place of hope but the smoke is gonna clear.
Fall into place – I fall and the smoke burns in the eyes.
You’re missing the joy in here, come trust your intuition.
You’re missing the point. You’re missing the joint.
Adrenalin.
Get back in the race my dear, come try again.
This time around you will not miss me.
Adrenalin.
You’re missing the point. You’re missing the joint.
Adrenalin.
In this moment when we catch our breath and step back
We can feel it beneath our toes.
Step back and we linger for the blink of an eye.
Yeah, we linger for a blink of an eye.
Hold on to it and follow the path to the end
where we linger for a blink of an eye
exploring facial expressions.
Adrenalin.
You’re missing the point.
I’m walking in with zero expectations.
The fun is left to those who stand the pain.
We never set up any regulations.
Come near to my bed,
Wipe off faith from my forehead
And I’ll still feast upon the crumbs you left.
The sound of ticking clocks and breaking hearts.
I’m tapping out with zero indications and I’m fainting.
Come near to my bed,
Wipe off faith from my forehead
And I’ll still feast upon the crumbs you left.
Fun was left to the others
And one was left there behind.
One thing led to the other.
The strange today is the hurting of yesterday.
You’re wondering why
You’re wondering what I’m waiting for.
I drink. I drown. I give up. I give in.
I’ve never been so far from realization.
The fun is left to those who stand the pain.
I’m walking in with zero expectations.
The fun is left to those who play the game.
We never set up any regulations.
What is it that scares you so much?
Distant laughter and we still cry.
What is it that scares me so much?
So I sink into your eyes
But what is it that makes us feel empty?
Distant laughter and we still run in circles.
And what is it that makes us feel empty?
Can you feel it taking us?
Can you feel it running down your spine?
Your heart is beating like mine.
I am terrified – just like you – I’m falling too.
Can you feel it?
I got lost there in between.
Are my fingers still clean?
Mirrored eyes so glistening.
Rough days like foreseen,
Just cracks in the screen
And I got lost there in between.
When I’m on my own,
All layers come off me.
So I sink into your eyes.
When I’m on my own I’m petrified – just like you.
So I’m slipping through your hands.
Can you feel it taking us?
Do you feel it breaking us?
Can you hear it?
Can you feel it running down your spine?
Your heart is beating like mine.
I am petrified just like you.
Can you feel it?
Are my fingers still clean?
I got lost there in between.
Can you heal it?
I will stay indoors
I am the freak you can talk to.
The world lies ahead but I will stay in bed.
I am the freak you get bored with.
I am the freak you get bored with
And it symbolizes everything you are.
The future is here
I will stay indoors
I am the freak you can talk to.
The world lies ahead but I won’t fall apart.
I am a freak, how can you get bored?
I am the freak you get bored with
And it symbolizes everything you are.
It symbolizes everything we are.
The future is here
I will stay indoors
I am the freak you can talk to.
And I will stay indoors
I am the freak you can talk to.
Am I the freak you’ll get old with?
Straight in my eyes,
I just want you to look straight in my eyes.
It is like sand slipping through my hands.
Straight in my eyes.
And it symbolizes everything you are.
It symbolizes everything we are.
We’re hugging anonymously.
Could we just hold on tight to the night,
walking right back to the sea.
Talking anonymously.
This is the last time, I feel it.
This is the last word, I mean it.
This is the last breath, come take it.
Breathe me in.
This is the last time, I feel it.
This is the last word, I mean it.
This is the last breath, come take it.
Now it’s yours.
You go and I won’t follow.
You go and I can’t follow.
You go away – I won’t follow.
You go and I won’t follow.
Turn your back on me
Go where you can’t hide,
And you step into the light
Escape into the wild.
Turn away from me
Go where you can’t hide.
You go and I will stay.
This is the last time, I feel it.
This is the last word, I mean it.
This is the last breath, come take it.
Breathe me in.
I won’t hold on to you.
This is the last time, I feel it.
This is the last word, I mean it.
Now it’s yours.
I’m not aligned with you.
I’m not at war – never have been – never will be.
So will you hold on to me?
Turn your back on me.
Turn away from me
Go where you can’t hide.
And by nightfall it will be gone.
Right before dawn it will be done.
You’re guilty as sin.
You’re guilty as sin.
I am guilty as sin.
This is so unlike you
So unlike you.
This is so unlike me.
We are tellers of untruth.
A lie had bounded us when we didn’t know any different.
You’re guilty as hell.
You’re guilty.
I’m guilty as sin.
You’re guilty as sin
With your guilty gaze.
I’m guilty as sin.
Here we are, look at us – we’re gonna crash and burn
Like vanishing dust when the storm sets in.
This is so unlike you
So unlike you.
This is so unlike me
So unlike us.
Here we are.
I’m guilty as sin
But you are guiltier.
I’m guilty as sin.
You’re guilty as sin
With your guilty gaze.
I’m guilty as sin.
This is so unlike you
So unlike you.
So unlike us.
One of the most exciting bands of the present
Successful musical escapism with the courage for great feelings
Sounds authentic and ambitious, delicate and true to life
Masterpieces full of dreams, fears longings and melancholy