children of the stones: the stars & the silence

New project from Mark Van Hoen of Black Hearted Brother, Locust, Seefeel, and Scala. Features guitar by Neil Halstead of Slowdive, Mojave 3, and Black Hearted Brother. The histories of new collaborations birthed out of the photo books of futures past often comes over the strong bonds of shared familiarities, and the process of new dynamic discoveries. To hear it from Mark Van Hoen [Black Hearted Brother, Locust, Scala, Seefeel, and so forth], about his formidable beginnings in his high school sprung band, The Occasional Garden; “we discovered we had a mutual love for Cocteau Twins, and decided to form a band.” An early group founded by his school friends Mark Clifford, and Martin Maeers; Van Hoen talks about near signings with Stevo Pearce’s Some Bizarre Records, and upbringing of being “quiet kids” in a rough school; “doing our best not to be noticed by the punks & skinheads.” Onward through the 90s of starting groups from Scala, Locust, solo work, collaborative work on Black Hearted Brother and more; the hometown connection endured through the new beginnings and group transitions. From sessions scattered throughout the oughts to present day; Van Hoen gathers again with Martin Maeers and also joined by Rachel Davies of Esben & The Witch, Neil Halstead & Al Forrester, Angus Finlayson, amongst other friends. “A convergence of different musicians, places, atmospheres and times”, Mark V.H. describes it, “I like it when all these things are knitted together to create a music that would not be possible by a group playing together in a room.