Spellbinding multi-instrumental trio Three Cane Whale combine the influences of folk, minimalism, classical and film music to produce something “impressively original” (The Guardian) and uniquely moving.

The music is intricate yet as spare, encompassing both a cinematic sweep and an intimate delicacy, evoking a diversity of landscapes, journeys and atmospheres.

What makes this album particularly unique is that they recorded each of the nineteen tracks (and three interludes)  in nineteen different locations. The band also photographed each location and provide a few notes on the place ensuring that the listener gets a singular insight as they listen to each indvidual track.

The album title reflects this. Holts are the underground dens, and hovers the overground resting-places, of otters.

All the tracks were recorded using exactly the same equipment, by this project’s ‘fourth whale’: concertina player and producer Rob Harbron.

The set-up was breathtakingly simple: a portable hard-disk recorder (the size of a paperback book), out of which were run three individual microphones on stands. The recorder itself also features built-in ambient mics, so part of Rob’s task was the careful positioning of himself to maximise the effectiveness of the latter.

Location photos show Rob in varying proximities to the band, standing or sitting, headphones clamped, but always an impressively still presence and voice of unerring wisdom.

There is a full gallery of images of each recording location here.