Held By Trees with Martin Smith

 

Held By Trees with Martin Smith

by Pete Clemons

What happens when you mix a band who, by there own admission are influenced by Talk Talk, and musicians from a Christian rock and modern worship band?

Essentially what you have is a new release by Held by Trees. What is Held by Trees? Through a by product of the chemical reaction process called photosynthesis oxygen is produced and released into the atmosphere by the tree. Just about everything you need to sustain life.

And that is what appears to be captured in this CD. It is sheer beauty from beginning to end. I have rarely heard so few lyrics put to such maximum effect.

Would I, had I known this level of detail beforehand, have overlooked this release. Quite possibly, who knows. But so glad I went into listening to this release blind.

The first thing I noticed was inside the sleeve where I read the words 'friendship is divine'. Just seeing that blew me away. And this collaboration and friendship is certainly made in heaven.

After several really excellent instrumental releases, Solace (2022) and Eventide – Live at Real World (2023), Held By Trees release their first music with a vocalist, Martin Smith.

The seven tracks on this release comprise of two 12-minute songs, 'You Deserve' and 'Lay Your Troubles Down' along with a third shorter one 'Oh My Love'.

The release also includes similar length instrumental mixes of all three tracks and an ambient version of 'Lay Your Troubles Down' by Hong Kong based ambient duo, Salt of the Sound who contribute a peaceful ambient feeling. Add Anita Tatlow’s ethereal vocals to the mix and it brings a whole new dimension to the song.

Given the nature of Held by Trees previous releases, how did this wonderful collaboration and release come about?.

As told by the band: 'Having established themselves with the highly acclaimed instrumental releases, an obvious question for the project has been ‘what would it be like with vocals?’

The answer to this question came when Held By Trees frontman, David Joseph, asked his friend Martin Smith to come and play a short opening set for their gig in Martin’s home town of Brighton.

Martin, a world-renowned singer-songwriter, on hearing Held By Trees set, found his imagination set on fire by the possibility of a collaboration. Over a phone call a few days Martin and David began to hatch a plan to get together at Real World Studios and record new music.

'Lay Your Troubles Down' was the first release from the resulting session, which also features Martin’s long-time friend and former Delirious bandmate, Stuart Garrard on guitar. It immediately garnered a Spotify editorial playlist, despite running to nearly 13 minutes.

Held by Trees will be joined by Martin Smith on a few live dates during November. And Friday 15th November see's the band play The Tin Arts Centre at the canal basin in Coventry. This could well be one of those genuinely 'I was there' moments.

Andy Nixon: The Waterline

 

Andy Nixon: The Waterline

by Pete Clemons

The coast, particularly for people from the Midlands, is a special place. I myself still get excited by the prospect about going to the seaside.

Originally from Sunderland Andy Nixon, guitarist from Freedom to Glide (see footnote below), by his own admission took the sea for granted. Since moving to Coventry, like us, he realises that the coast is not so accessible and understands our affection for the sea. Andy has recently completed his debut solo album he titled, The Waterline. And what a joy it is.

The Waterline is, of course, the point where a boat floats. You can see what is above the waterline but not so much below. And, using The Waterline as an analogy, the same applies to people. You take them at face value but you never really know exactly how they are under the surface.

Similarly, Icebergs can also be a good metaphor for authenticity. The majority of what we really feel and what is really going on for us is down below the waterline (both consciously and unconsciously) – below the tip of the iceberg.

The book Jonathan Livingstone Seagull by Richard Bach offers a thought-provoking allegory about the importance of breaking free from societal limitations and pursuing your passions. The book emphasizes the importance of pushing boundaries and striving for excellence. It encourages readers to chase their dreams fearlessly.

Added together then it was a mix of those factors – what lies below the waterline, icebergs and chasing the dream – that proved inspirational for Andy's album. And he hopes that his efforts in the making of The Waterline will produce an album that strikes a balance somewhere between.

Musically, The Waterline, has not been written with any particular genre in mind. The songs were penned with a 'whatever seemed to fit' type attitude. The subject matter was, I think, the important element.

Andy's solo project began weeks before the pandemic, and for a while it ran in parallel with the last F2G album 'The Chronicle of Stolen Souls'. It was all ready to go by the end of 2023. But then Andy felt an intro was needed and that final piece of the puzzle was written Jan 2024.

In buying this release what you will come home with what I can only describe as a decidedly attractive sleeve. The cover picture was taken by Andy. All CD booklet pictures were taken in various locations such as Kos, Roker beach and Eyemouth in Scotland. And, you will notice a nod of the head towards Richard Bach's book, as Seagulls are noticeable too.

Andy Nixon's personality pervades this album, English, distinctive and occasionally sublime. His voice is unique, his guitar-playing subtle and rhythmic and his lyrics - well, his lyrics ... take the track 'Still' for example. Here Andy describes his thoughts:

So, we're going back to 2020 and looking at how it all unfolded, especially in the UK where we had a Health Service on it's knees and health professionals put through hell. The time was also marked by the PPE scandals, the late reactions to the pandemic, leaders breaking their own laws, the blatant lying, the incompetence, etc etc. (For the record I lean way more to the left than the right - enough said). The song is built around the phases of the moon, it's a more poetic way of time-lining the year than doing a Barbara Dixon January, February etc etc (look that up if you're under 50)..... Wolf Moon, Snow Moon, Strawberry Moon..... way more interesting!

I needed characters for the protagonist and the antagonist (NHS vs Govt) so it's very loosely based on the opening scene of The Tempest. (I'm not at all well-read on Shakespeare but it's a famous scene and it makes a great analogy). Johnson is the "Captain" and the entire NHS are the "Bosun".

I wanted the guitar solo to feel like a ship on a stormy sea so there are a lot of ascending and descending scales and arpeggios going on! I think it works?

Last but by no means least I want to thank my dear friend the amazing Louise Wilson of Kafkadiva who is responsible for the beautifully layered harmonies that build throughout the song "Still" would not have worked without her incredible vocal and her perfect improvisations. Thanks Lou x

So, to sum up, "Still" is a commentary on a world pandemic whilst journeying through the phases of the moon against the setting of The Tempest by William Shakespeare. Pretentious? Moi?

Response to The Waterline has, so far, exceeded expectations. It has actually been quite amazing . And, naturally, Andy is absolutely delighted with it all.

Footnote: Freedom to Glide (F2G) is a coming together of the talents Pete Riley and Andy Nixon. Both played together in the Pink Floyd tribute Dark Side of the Wall. F2G weren't so much a product of the 'modern boundary stretching/ambitious rock' type boom which gave us the likes of Porcupine Tree, The Pineapple Thief, Anathema and many others. That said, their music has always been accomplished, always melodic and always, but always, very listenable.

The Rabid Rat Punk Club / Now Society

 

The Rabid Rat Punk Club/Now Society

by Pete Clemons

It is fair to say that Warwick University was no different in struggling with the emerging punk rock scene. As indeed did many universities. Initially the whole punk rock scene was given a rough time. In the case of Warwick though, and in order to meet demand and attract punk bands, an alternative social scene began to run in parallel with the more customary social scene. It was known as The Rabid Rat Punk Club.

One of their first gigs was held during 1977 where they invited a band called School Meals to play. As was the case an over exuberant crowd spilled over to disorder.

The organisers received the following warning: 'Rabid Rat, the campus society which caters for new wave enthusiasts, has been formally told of the imposition of a ban, which followed incidents at two new wave concerts that took place earlier this term'.

The first concert, given by the band School Meals, was a private booking by the Disco Room, arranged through normal Arts Federation channels. According to an Arts Federation source: "They made a mess of the stewarding - only one man was at the door". After the concert abusive slogans were daubed in prominent areas of the union building. At least half of the audience came from outside the university, and it is they rather than the students at the concert who are believed to have done the daubing.

The second of those gigs, and a week after the School Meals concert, Rabid Rat organised a concert featuring the VIPs. The VIPs were mainly a university based band. On this occasion the Arts Federation installed its own stewards in the Disco Room, but again ugly incidents occurred.

"It was like the inside of a powder keg in there", an Arts Federation source said, "the only way to handle gigs like that is with professional bouncers". Again, the common denominator it seemed, was that half the audience was non-student.

The Arts Federation's chief steward confirmed that he and his staff were unable to keep order. The students' union executive supported a proposal to impose what was later described as "an unofficial ban' on New Wave groups. But of course that ban was soon lifted.

The Now Society began during January 1978. It was an offshoot of the then fashionable Rabid Rat Punk Club. At the time of its inception the arts federation (in the words of the club) was incapable of putting on any bands of any interest at a time when the British music scene was at its most vibrant.

As an alternative Paul Shurey (drummer of the VIPs) and Mike Dembinski instigated the Now Society.

Music, fun and spontaneity were the original watchwords. The first events were planned on a massive scale; fun dates were based around some small but hip bands: Whirlwind, The Boyfriends, Rocca Hula and the Waikiki Wipeouts. The nights came with discos, food & drink, competitions and fancy-dress.

This made a direct change from the 'normal boring old sit down university gigs'. Students flocked along, as publicity was good and the gigs were attractive. After about 5 fun dates organised by Shurey and Dembinski, based around power pop/beat/rock'n'roll acts, a new regime took over, which led to a new phase of 'Nowism', right in tune with the fast approaching 80s, and the emergence of Coventry as the cultural theatre of the universe.

1978 also saw a light-hearted musical intervention as a member of top campus pop group, the VIPs, was almost drowned by hecklers. Very quick on the uptake, ahead of the game so to speak, the Now Society had spotted the up and coming local talent and had vowed to have them at Warwick.

'You will have the opportunity to view the most promising talent that the City of Coventry has produced' affirmed the society. 'Over the last year or so Coventry, and the surrounding area, have produced a few good bands'. Of course they were referring to The Coventry Automatics and all that came with it.