SOHAR by Sonic Coins + Icons
One listen to SOHAR and you’ve opened yourself up to a dark disco, trip hop, synth drone, analogue-soaked experience that draws from intimate conversations between electronic duo Mark H Evans and Hannah Jones.
It’s a narrative in sound where each other’s musical influences have been filtered through Mark’s synthesisers and guitars to create SOHAR, an album of songs that speaks of the often dirty but ultimately beautiful human condition that makes us who we are… but with a beat.
Hannah and Mark have a long and diverse musical partnership and their friendship spans more than 30 years. From bedroom rock ‘n’ roll in a South Wales terraced house to two ethereal acoustic albums as Betty Black & The Sleeping Giants, they parted ways when the vagaries of being and family commitments took precedence.
Now reunited as Sonic Coins + Icons, they’ve joined forces to put everything they’ve learned, experienced, listened to and thought about when life got in the way to make something meaningful and melodically profound.
That’s a big statement - but it’s a big album.
Mark has been a member of two influential and highly regarded Welsh 90s bands (The March Hares and The Jonah Hex) and shared stages with the 60 Ft Dolls, Dub War, The Stereophonics, Shed 7, Pop Will Eat Itself, Gorky’s Zygotic Mynki, Captain Sensible and Nova Mob (to name but a few).
He’s written soundtracks for film and TV and was shortlisted for a BAFTA Cymru for his work on BBC’s Codebreakers: Heroes of Bletchley Park. He also composed soundtracks to two short horror films in 2024 (Reel Terror and End of Days).
Hannah’s a published author, broadcaster and journalist. But what she really loves doing more than anything else is be the first to hear Mark’s songs and immerse herself within the creative process that follows.
SOHAR, their first album as a pair, was written and produced by Mark and supported by a cast of friends: Charlie Adlard (cover artwork), Joe Farr (mixing and mastering), Darryl Corner (photography and film) and Gary White (vocal recordings).
As to the album’s title? All we will say for now is that SOHAR is an acronym with clues to its meaning on the back of the album sleeve (on the vinyl release)…
…and in every line of every song.
All you have to do is listen.
Tracklist
| 1. | No Need to Hide | 5:08 |
| 2. | Roses | 5:47 |
| 3. | Reform (as we fall) | 4:32 |
| 4. | Dead Streets Sigh | 4:59 |
| 5. | I Came Alive | 4:40 |
| 6. | Beneath the Veil | 5:19 |
| 7. | Endless Love | 7:06 |
| 8. | No Need to Hide | 5:08 |
Credits
Written, played and produced by Mark H Evans
Vocals by Hannah Jones
music recorded at The Sonic Citadel
Vocals recorded at Music Sync Tank
Mixing and Mastering at Joe Farr Mastering
Artwork by Charlie Adlard
Photography by Darryl Corner
License
All rights reserved.Tags
Recommendations
One listen to SOHAR and you've opened yourself up to a dark disco, analogue-soaked experience that draws from intimate conversations between electronic duo Mark H Evans and Hannah Jones. This is a narrative in sound, where each other's influences have been re-filtered to create a story that speaks to the flawed but ultimately beautiful human condition that makes us who we are.