David Hilborne – “Echoes from an Empty Chair”

On the anniversary of the passing of Nova Cascade member Eric Bouillette, and knowing that Dave Hilborne has also passed away; today is the day we highlight the music of Dave Hilborne. This music was produced back in the late 1980s and early 1990s, before Nova Cascade.

So, I will focus on the wonderful moments and music that influenced and helped Dave Hilborne and Nova Cascade develop into the band that brought extraordinary music to the world.

“This album is dedicated to the memory of my darling brother Dave, now entertaining the angels.” states, Louise Hilborne. Echoes From an Empty Chair, is a collection of 18 previously unreleased tracks by the late Dave Hilborne (1968 2025), best known as the creative mastermind behind Nova Cascade. These recordings from the late 1980s and early 1990s have been lovingly curated by Dave’s sister Louise and remastered by James Perrett. This collection is an enthralling journey through Dave’s back catalogue of creative work; the planting of musical seeds which would later grow into Nova Cascade. Dave’s trademark high-altitude vocals and his dazzling layers of synths and piano. This album is essential listening for fans of Nova Cascade and fans of progressive music, with nods to Talk Talk and Mark Hollis, Peter Hammill, Marillion and much more.

Echoes from an Empty Chair, will be released on 9th September 2025.

“Invictus,” is the perfect song to begin the story from the Empty Chair. Invictus is “a Latin word meaning “unconquered” or “undefeated”. It is often used to describe someone who shows strength and resilience in the face of adversity.” Well, that certainly was Dave Hilborne. This is the second longest song on the album, and it opens with female narration, from Freya. Narration that reminds me so much of Gary Brooker, providing narration on one of my favorite songs from Procol Harum; “In Held ‘Twas in I.” The famous poem, “Invictus,” by poet, William Ernest Henley, if you take the time to read it, involves Henley writing this poem, while recovering from surgery; after surgeon, Joseph Lister, saved his right leg. (Henley had already lost his left leg to surgery after fighting tuberculosis). Henley’s poem which features stoicism, or self-discipline, has become a UK cultural moral code. Here it is for you to read and explore, “Out of the night that covers me. Black as the pit from pole to pole. I thank whatever gods may be. For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance. I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeoning of chance. My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears. Looms but the Horror of the shade. And yet the menace of the years. Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate. How charged with punishments the scroll. I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul.” That definitely sounds very much like Dave as well as Eric Bouillette. I was fortunate to have interviewed both Dave Hilborne and Eric Bouillette, before their passing. Both men were made of “iron” and empathy. Strong, creative, and intelligent, but full of love for the world and humankind. We will truly miss them both. This song is an opening tribute to both of their endurance, as Henley wrote, to remain, the “captains of their souls.”

“Desperate Veil,” opens with soft keyboards. On this song, Dave Hilborne’s voice absolutely sounds like Mark Hollis of Talk Talk. It is clear to hear, that Dave must have been inspired by Mark’s voice and music. Dave sings, “You hide behind. A desperate veil. That keeps you from the world. That you are brought here for. But don’t lose hope. There may be time. To make it home.”

“False Faces,” opens with a soft, almost military-like, drum salute. Then, guitar and soft female vocalizations, as the soundscape grows and the song proceeds. This is the longest song on the album. It is full of powerful keyboards. Dave sings, “False faces I wear them. I am nothing without them, now. In the circle that surrounds me. False faces are facing the ground. False faces I deny you.” The keyboards, guitar and drums form a warm surrounding soundscape, as the pace picks up. A Marillion/Pendragon style song that sounds fantastic, as the musicianship and instrumentation takes over.

“Darkest Days,” opens with keyboards and mystical orchestration, before the full soundscape appears with golden, lead electric guitar. Dave sings, “June 23^rd, 1991. However, did it feel to be betrayed.” A difficult song about how darker days interrupt our brightest days. Dave gets full support from a small choir singing. Then, the keyboards take over.

“Vital Signs,” opens with bouncing guitar and keyboards. Dave sings with supporting female vocal accompaniment. The singer echoes his lyrics. Not the Rush song, of the same name, in sound, despite both songs dealing with the theme of communication. Was Dave inspired by the Rush song? Only he knows. It would depend on when this song was written. Rush’s song was released in 1981, on “Moving Pictures.”

“A Year for a Day,” is the best song on the album. If you want empathy, and who doesn’t? This is your song. Deep emotional lyrics and Dave, with that almost crying voice, will bring tears to your eyes, if you still have a beating heart. The keyboards, guitars, piano, synths, and orchestration on this song will do their own tugging at your heartstrings. It is a highlight moment for his music, that you can tell Dave had so much fun making.

“Finely Tuned Guitar,” opens with Dave singing, “Sometimes when it is quiet here. I can almost sense her presence here. The comfort of her glow,” set to warm organ playing. A fine memory of someone close.

“Mental Space,” is a more pop oriented song. Like a Talk Talk song, full of drums, keyboards, guitar, synths, and organ. Female vocals from his sister and others fill the air supporting Dave. One of the toughest songs I’ve heard from Dave. He really lets loose on someone who has betrayed or done him wrong. Dave sings, “You’re just a catastrophic waste of mental space.”

“Carpe Diem,” opens with powerful keyboards and Dave singing, “Seize the day! Make your life extraordinary!” Wonderful keyboards, synths, and orchestration help build a majestic soundscape. Another of the best songs on this album. The choirs are so important, almost making this song into a hymn. This song sounds like it may have been inspired by Talk Talk’s “Its My Life.”

“Dissolve,” opens slow and ominous with deep keyboards and synths. Another Marillion – like song. Very similar to the type that we all miss hearing. We were all surrounded by this type of music back in the 1980s and 90s. I and many other people miss it. The quality of the harpsichord like keys and flute like keys, sets this song apart from the others.

“Nostalgia,” opens with more deep, dark, keyboards. Nostalgia always seems to bring with it pain in remembering how good things were. This music was wonderful during that era. Will it ever come back? Dave and Nova Cascade were trying to keep it going. Mark Hollis and Dave Hilborne have passed. Who will take over the march towards deep, emotional progressive rock? Only time will tell. But I hope it is sooner than later.

On “Perfect World,” Dave sings, “You spent your life searching for a perfect world. You lost your aim all the way.” Another powerful song that again must have been influenced by Mark Hollis and Talk Talk.

“I Bleed,” opens with congas and fast paced keyboards and acoustic guitar. The strings take this one even higher. So, unlike most of Dave and Nova Cascade’s other music. There is a tropical flair and sound to this one. A very upbeat and happy way to handle the songs’ title.

“Threshold,” has a very Marillion feel to it. But Dave’s vocals have returned to that almost crying sound again, taking me right back to Talk Talk. Dave sings, with female support, “All he wanted to say. I love you!”

“Wrapped in Silver,” opens with wonderful acoustic guitar and soft keyboards. Dave sings, “Love is strange. I served my purpose. Then you found you had no use for me. Just a stone wrapped in silver.” A ‘somebody has done someone wrong song’. Dave sings the sad lyrics set to acoustic guitar and wonderful keyboards. I can almost feel Fish singing with him, “You, who wiped me from your memory, like a greasepaint mask. Just like a greasepaint mask,” from “Incubus,” one of my favorite songs on “Fugazi.”

“Some Birds Are Never Caged,” brings back the memory of “Invictus.” There is definitely trouble on this one. The piano playing is exceptional, as are the synths and keyboards. This is a desperate song of someone close leaving, in some way.

“Halo,” describes a woman with many flaws, with weeping keyboards bleeding out everywhere. Dave sings, “She’s an angel, she’s a devil. She knows the brain well. Invisible secret scares. How I wish this could end here. In tears or in rage. Give thanks for mercy. The quality of mercy. Pray for mercy. Please stop me from breaking tonight.” A very deep, foreboding, and sad song.

“The Last Wave,” is the closing song, and it opens with slow plucked acoustic guitar and organ. Dave sings, “Farewell to a pain day. The final wave couldn’t take the strain of a hope, that I have. These diaries that I swore to keep, now feed the fire at a funeral feast.” A powerful album closer full of emotion and that wonderful harpsichord like keyboard. A desperate call to all to avoid pain and suffering, or prevent it from being self-directed, if at all possible. Dave ends with, “All dreams can surface now.”

David Hilborne’ s posthumous “Echoes from an Empty Chair,” is a wonderful look at the music and sounds that shaped his imagination during the 1980s and 90s. As you can see, I, and many other fans, were also influenced by the spectacular music that came out of that era. So many bands, that definitely make nostalgia the perfect escape for many of us. However, this tribute and compilation of music, also displays beyond the influences, that Dave wanted to go further, and set his own course. And I think he and Nova Cascade did accomplish that feat. They succeeded in bringing this heartwarming, empathetic music to new generations, and simultaneously carried on the legacies of some legendary bands. Sit back, put on some headphones, and listen to all that Dave Hilborne delivered on this compilation. Remarkable music that absolutely needed to see the light of day and be heard. Thank you, Louise Hilborne, and all who decided that the Dave Hilborne story was not quite complete. Dave Hilborne and Nova Cascade ended up being the “Birds that are Never Caged.”

As with previous Nova Cascade releases, all proceeds from the sale of this album will be donated to Dave’s chosen charity Pancreatic Cancer UK, in honor of his friend and Nova Cascade bandmate Eric Bouillette: https://togetherinmemory.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/in-Memory/Eric-Bouillette

All songs written and performed by Dave Hilborne. Additional performances include: Louise Hilborne, Will Johnstone, Michael Fowler, Fiona Barrow, Nigel Barrow, Andre De Ste-Croix, Tim Didymus, James Perrett, Simone Laraway, with thanks to all others who helped along the way whose names have been sadly lost to time. Echoes From an Empty Chair was mastered by James Perrett of JRP Music Services with recordings selected by Louise Hilborne. Cover photos by Brooke A Shields. Cover and package design by Charlie Bramald. Promotional materials by Colin Powell.

Album Track List: