Held By Trees

★★★ Solace TWEED JACKET. CD/DL/LP

A sidemen’s supergroup play a set inspired by Talk Talk’s Mark Hollis Composer and multi-instrumentalist David Joseph assembled a group of musicians who had improvised on albums by Hollis and Talk Talk – including guitarist Robbie McIntosh and pianist Lawrence Pendrous –and invited them to do the same on his own compositions. Among other guests are Tim Renwick, who has played guitar with Pink Floyd, trumpeter Gary Alesbrook (Super Furry Animals; Noel Gallagher) and Dire Straits founder, guitarist David Knopfler. Next To Silence exemplifies Joseph’s organic, expansive approach, with its field recordings and clarinet and sax drifting between the sparse piano chords. is beautifully played throughout, with a particularly supple rhythm section, though at times it could benefit from a sharper focus. But there are striking moments, like the massive fuzz guitars of Tree Of Life segueing into a dialogue of muted brass, and the strange harmonium and guitar meditation of An Approach. Mike Barnes