Trees of Eternity is a musical collaboration between Finnish guitarist Juha Raivio and Sweden-based, South African-born singer Aleah Stanbridge (aka Starbridge).
When I discovered this band I was immediately struck by the haunting delivery. This is not the kind of album that you play on a bright, sunny day – this is a night time album. An album that invites reflection. An album that explores the things that happen in the dark.
David Lynch would have approved, and this music would not have been out of place on the Twin Peaks TV show. Just like the show, the music is strange, haunting, lovely, and somehow deeply touching and beautiful – much because of Aleah’s vocal delivery.
I was so excited to discover this band, and as I always do when I fall in love with something new, I try to read up on them to find out more – who’s in the band, where are they from, what’s their status, etc. I almost wish I hadn’t.
This band, and Aleah Starbridge, is no more. This nearly breaks my heart.
I found, to my horror, that Aleah – the beautiful voice behind this wonderful music – died of cancer shortly after completing her vocal tracks for the album. She was 39.
Aleah had been ill for a long time and probably knew this was going to be her final work. Learning her story was heart-breaking, and has given the album’s haunting, ethereal sound a whole different and much more powerful meaning.
On top of that, Juha was left with the task to finish the album and see it released after her death. The messages he posted about this process were incredibly raw. Despite the hurt he did it out of love and loyal devotion, but when I see him talk about how close he was to not being able to see it through… man. I don’t know how he was able to complete the work, but many of us are glad he did.
Much like David Bowie spoke to us from beyond the grave in the album he released just before passing on, I feel Aleah is comforting us from beyond the grave in songs like Hour of the Nightingale.
Weep not for martyrs
Raise your head
Saline waters won’t raise the dead
Grief will haunt those who forget
That night is not the end
Wow.
It is hard to separate the album from what happened to the singer. It strongly colours how the album is experienced, but I don’t think for one second that the artists wanted the album to be seen as “death music”.
What the album does so masterfully is to paint lovely, yet dark, soundscapes. The listener is taken on a journey designed to make you feel, reflect, and face tough realities. As Aleah knew this was her last work, she had no time for fluff. Every sentence matters, and every word counts. The music that accompanies them likewise.
Following Trees of Eternity on their final journey is more meaningful than you think. If you should choose to take the journey with them, I’ll wager there’s a big chance you may have picked up a new personal insight or two when you emerge on the other side.
This album is a gift from someone who is no longer here. Do yourself a favour and give it a try.
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