After the end of the group June Frost I wanted to take a good break from playing in a band and playing live. I had the chance to move out into the country into a house far from neighbours and distractions. I set up a home studio and began to record a series of songs or pieces of music, playing all the instruments and taking as much time as I wanted to get things right. Long nights, scary winds, electicity cuts and a white kitten contributed to this production.

The changing atmospheres and natural forces infused the music, and so it was appropriate that I recorded a first solo album 'Live in the Garden' (2001) in front of a small crowd of 70 or so people - in my garden. Luckily, the name came spontaneously.

This was a warm-up for the more 'arranged' Microclimate (2003) where chiors built-from-scratch compete with old synthesisers, bazoukis mix with potlids, bright guitars compliment scratchy samples. A few guest musicians added occasional touches, and the album took about a year to record and mix. The release was followed by a series of solo concerts in France and Germany, which was nearly finished with snorkelling in Thailand.

Many of the songs from this period have made there way through to the new group, which is why it seemed natural to reformulate the name as Robert Hancock and Microclimate. Much more in-your-face now, of course - have you seen the new band?