Van Hoen, Mark
Plan For A Miracle
The landscapes, the skyscapes rendered on Plan For A Miracle feel unpopulated as a rule - but when he does introduce
vocal elements, Van Hoen has a history of doing so to spectacular effect - think of "Real Love" from 1998s Playing With
Time, the seductive intonation of its title recurring throughout like a series of massive holograms, echoing,
stuttering, breaking up, surging. Here, there are just the faintest of vocals, barely distinct, disquieting. "Theres
been a bit of a game changer in recent times," explains Van Hoen. "AI software that enables you to extract vocals and
instrument parts from virtually any recording. That means sampling individual parts from existing sources is no longer
limited to the original mix exposing certain parts soloed. The vocal parts I use are from multiple sources and often
pitch shifted altered rhythmically and melodically." Theres further vocal chatter on "I Really Do", proceeding at a
faster pace as if giving chase, or being pursued - distant, enigmatic. "The Music", meanwhile, its beat tolling, lost in
its own fog of static, features a curious intonation, like the ghost of a lost Walker Brother.
Sadly, the albums title is in reference to a personal tragedy on Van Hoens part - the loss of his wife. Titles such as
"I Wont Give Up", which faintly reminds of another Eno masterpiece, Another Green World, in its nautical hurly-bury, or
the pastoral strains of "Mrs Who", heavily clouded with sadness, seem to allude to this. "In fact the record was
recorded entirely before she passed away," says Van Hoen, "most of it before she even became very ill. The title was
given to the album when it started to look like she wasnt going to make it beyond a few months. It was something Osho
said - "plan for a miracle" - so it was a statement of hope. Unfortunately it was not to be." Although the album is
non-thematic, non-specific in its atmospheres, sound paintings, elegant structures it most certainly stands as a
magnificent monument to Oshos memory.
Price
Genre
Format
LP - 1 disk
Release
09-02-2024
Label
Item-nr
591916
EAN
5051142010230
Availability
In stock
Tracks
Title
Artist
1
CLIMATES
2
THIS IS FOR THEM
3
PENCIL OF SPHERES
4
MRS WHO
5
I WONT GIVE UP
6
ELECTRIC LIGHTS
7
THE UNDERPASS
8
INSIGHT
9
REDWOOD
10
I REALLY DO
11
THE MUSIC