A late night car break-in was the catalyst for the debut solo album from Pluto bass player Mike Hall.
When a hard drive containing seven years’ worth of songwriting and home recordings disappeared from the people mover one night, the disappointment was immense – until his friend, music producer Jol Mulholland pointed out that no-one was ever going to hear the material anyway, right? Challenge laid down.
Mike decided that maybe it was time to commit some of those lost tunes to vinyl – the ones he could remember anyway. The result is this album ‘Nothing Stands Still’, recorded over the last couple of years at the Oven.
Although he started off his career as lead singer in a punk rock band, nineties hardcore darlings Balance, Mike Hall has since made a solid career as a bass player. As well as touring and recording with his own band Pluto, he’s played with the likes of Anna Coddington, SJD, Mulholland, Tami Neilson, Dimmer, Finn Andrews, The Bads, Tim Finn, Nightchoir, The Brunettes and more - as well as sessioning on whoever needs bass or double bass.
Recently Mike has also been part of the hugely popular Liberty Stage Come Together Band, bashing out classic rock albums to huge sold-out crowds around Aotearoa NZ. So, it made sense to pull some favours from his mates for this album. Jol Mulholland played the bulk of guitars and drums, with Brett Adams guesting on guitar on a track, Matthias Jordan on a number of songs playing keys and Alistair Deverick on drums for a couple of tracks. The nine tracks ranging from everyday observations to interior monologues. There are tunes about family and life and feelings. All the feelings.
Hall’s ambitions for this record? Simply to get it out into the world, so that some good can come from that stolen hard drive back in 2018. So, to the car thieves: cheers! But if you did ever want to return the hard drive, maybe there could be a second album.
NOTHING STANDS STILL album out Friday 16 August
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