For those unaware, hot on the heels of their critically acclaimed debut album, Solace, instrumental project Held By Trees is excited to be releasing two new EPs this year on Sound Canyon Records through InnerSleeve.com.

Recorded at Peter Gabriel’s famous Real World Studios, the first EP is comprised of live versions of five tracks from Solace. The six-piece live iteration of Held By Trees brings together three of the Talk Talk/Mark Hollis alumni that contributed to Solace including renowned guitarist Robbie McIntosh.

The band recorded playing all together in the ‘Big Room’ at Real World in November 2022, a week after their debut live performances.

The second EP is an entirely new suite of pieces themed on the transition from daylight to darkness. Entitled Eventide, it was tracked live at Real World Studios and then additional layers were added by musicians in America and Canada, by old friends of project leader David Joseph.

The twin EPs will be released on separate CDs and as two sides of one vinyl pressing by new American record label, Sound Canyon and their retail arm.

CD 1: Solace - Live at Real World Studios
1. IN THE TREES
2. RAIN AFTER SUN
3. MYSTERIUM
4. THE TREE OF LIFE
5. THE NEW EARTH

CD 2: Eventide
6. PURE SUNLIGHT
7. THE GOLDEN HOUR
8. THE BLUE HOUR
9. GROW DARK
10. NIGHTFALL

The new material sees Held By Trees continue to create instrumental music characterized by skilled improvisation over spacious, epic arrangements.The music draws on the influence of Van Morrison and John Martyn, alongside their usual late Talk Talk and Pink Floyd references.

The live versions of Solace tracks bring a fresh intensity to the music, with a heavier vibe created by the band in real time, and opens on the wonderfully reflective, melodically-charged IN THE TREES and then brings us the chilled out, languishing beauty within RAIN AFTER SUN, the ornately-sculpted beauty of my own personal favorite, MYSTERIUM, and then we get the statically absorbent THE TREE OF LIFE, with the live set rounding out on the veritably ethereal musical mechanics of THE NEW EARTH.

Up next is the Eventide musical experience, and that begins with it the verily glistening PURE SUNLIGHT and the quietly rhythmic, lightly-grooved THE GOLDEN HOUR, and they are in turn backed by the low slung, dedicated and thoughtfully impassioned, short but sweet THE BLUE HOUR, then comes the melodically-infused GROW DARK, the recording closing out on the drum-led, jazz-lite, soft guitar piece NIGHTFALL.

Musicians:
Laurence Pendrous - piano James Grant - bass, double bass
Robbie McIntosh - guitar
David Joseph - guitar
Andy Panayi - flute, clarinet, saxophone
Paul Beavis - drums

Official Purchase Link

Held By Trees // In the Trees ~ Live

Held By Trees // The Tree of Life ~ Live

Held By Trees // Rain After Sun ~ Live