Following two albums primarily featuring instrumental compositions, Held By Trees (HBT) introduced vocals through Martin Smith in their 2024 release, Solace. The result is an a sublimely beautiful piece of work that comprises mainly three extended tracks. Each track is presented twice: once with vocals and once as a predominantly instrumental piece – the outcome being a quite absorbing album.
On this new album Hinterland, however, HBT have reverted back to the instrumental format. It’s an intriguing album comprising only eight tracks, with each track focusing heavily on ambient music, plus post-rock and jazz. It has been described as “a sonic journey through a reflective landscape of ambiguity, exploring the in-between spaces of life, doubt, joy, melancholy and transition” .. whatever this means! If you like to float away and be contemplative when you listen to music, this one is definitely for you.
Certainly, the opportunity to be reflective is on offer here. Opening track ‘Edge of Town’ sets the mood for most of the album, comprising mostly of a spacey and ambient soundscape. There are allusions to mid-1970s David Gilmour in the guitar work and is possibly the most prog-leaning piece and for this reviewer, the best track on the album. More like this would have made it a much better album. Title track ‘Hinterland’ is in a similar vein until, after three minutes, it becomes somewhat heavier with a few guitar gymnastics and some Sax. Whereas on ‘The Pylon Line’, keyboards and an acoustic guitar can be heard floating behind the main beat. The title track and ‘The Pylon Line’ have the feel of early Porcupine Tree.
‘The Boundary,’ ‘The Path’ and ‘The Snickett’ together runs to less than seven minutes. The Sax used on ‘The Boundary’ gives quite a jazzy feel, similarly with ‘The Path,’ with Flute and Sax whereas the latter sounds very much like a band warming up before it begins. Closing track ‘Bough & Branches’ is very ambient and atmospheric and flows nicely.
The accompanying blurb claims about a dozen musicians were involved in the recording but I’m not sure what they all did. There’s no denying the sound is good and it’s all very well-played but with the quality of musicians involved, a few keyboard or guitar solos would have added something more sonically adventurous to the final outcome.
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