Held by Trees are a UK-based instrumental post-rock collective founded in 2021 by composer and producer David Joseph. The project draws deep inspiration from the late works of Talk Talk and Mark Hollis, particularly albums like Spirit of Eden (1988) and Laughing Stock (1991), and aims to continue their legacy through spontaneous improvisation and emotive soundscapes.
David Joseph, who had previously collaborated with guitarist Tim Renwick, was introduced to Talk Talk's audio engineer Phill Brown. This connection led to the involvement of several Talk Talk alumni in the project, including percussionist Martin Ditcham, guitarist Robbie McIntosh, pianist Laurence Pendrous, and woodwind player Andy Panayi. Their shared history with Talk Talk's later recordings provided a rich foundation for Held by Trees' sound. Solace is the band's 2022 debut EP, which featured contributions from Talk Talk veterans and other notable musicians, establishing the project's ambient and post-rock style. The Eventide EP, released in 2023, continued the exploration of atmospheric soundscapes, recorded at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios. In 2024, Held by Trees & Martin Smith—a collaborative EP with vocalist Martin Smith, formerly of Delirious?— marked a departure from their purely instrumental approach. The band's second full-length, Hinterland, was released in April 2025 and features contributions from Talk Talk/Mark Hollis veterans and other renowned musicians.
