The Cocoon

The Cocoon is the debut solo album by British guitarist and keyboardist Richard Henshall of Haken fame. It was released on 9 August 2019. It features guest performances of his Haken bandmate Ross Jennings (vocals), among other guests. The main members include bassist Conner Green (also of Haken) and Cynic drummer Matt Lynch.

.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+span.mw-empty-elt+.hatnote,.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}

.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ul{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist .mw-empty-li{display:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dt::after{content:": "}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li::after{content:"\a0 · ";font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li:last-child::after{content:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li li:first-child::before{content:" (";font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li li:last-child::after{content:")";font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol{counter-reset:listitem}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol>li{counter-increment:listitem}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol>li::before{content:" "counter(listitem)"\a0 "}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd ol>li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt ol>li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li ol>li:first-child::before{content:" ("counter(listitem)"\a0 "}

.mw-parser-output .infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent;color:inherit}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:-3px}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media(min-width:640px){body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table{display:table!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>caption{display:table-caption!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>tbody{display:table-row-group}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table th,body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table td{padding-left:inherit;padding-right:inherit}}

The Cocoon
9 August 2019
Progressive metal
47:38
Hen Music
Richard Henshall, Simon Grove

The Cocoon is the debut solo album by British guitarist and keyboardist Richard Henshall of Haken fame. It was released on 9 August 2019. It features guest performances of his Haken bandmate Ross Jennings (vocals), among other guests. The main members include bassist Conner Green (also of Haken) and Cynic drummer Matt Lynch.

It was initially planned for a 26 July release. Henshall cites Bon Iver, Meshuggah and Squarepusher as influences and says the album reflects his tastes for electronic music, jazz and metal.

The song "Twisted Shadows", which features guest performances from Jennings and from Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess, started with some improvisations at Henshall's piano and is influenced by Prince, Frank Zappa, The Dear Hunter and Meshuggah.

.mw-parser-output .tracklist{border-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .tracklist tr{background-color:var(--background-color-base,#fff)}.mw-parser-output .tracklist tr:nth-child(2n-1){background-color:var(--background-color-neutral-subtle,#f8f9fa)}.mw-parser-output .tracklist caption{text-align:left;font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .tracklist td,.mw-parser-output .tracklist th[scope="row"]{vertical-align:top}.mw-parser-output .tracklist th[scope="col"]{text-align:left;background-color:var(--background-color-neutral,#eaecf0)}.mw-parser-output .tracklist th.tracklist-length-header,.mw-parser-output .tracklist th.tracklist-number-header,.mw-parser-output .tracklist th[scope="row"],.mw-parser-output .tracklist-length,.mw-parser-output .tracklist-total-length td{padding-right:10px;text-align:right}.mw-parser-output .tracklist th[scope="row"]{font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .tracklist-number-header{width:2em;padding-left:10px}.mw-parser-output .tracklist-length-header{width:4em}.mw-parser-output .tracklist tr.tracklist-total-length{background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .tracklist .tracklist-total-length th{padding:0;font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .tracklist-total-length th>span{float:right;padding:0 10px;background-color:var(--background-color-neutral,#eaecf0)}.mw-parser-output .tracklist-total-length td{background-color:var(--background-color-neutral,#eaecf0);font-weight:bold;padding:0 10px 0 0}

Adapted from the album's page at Bandcamp:

  • Richard Henshall - guitars, keyboards and vocals
  • Conner Green - bass
  • Matt Lynch - drums

Guest performances

  • Ben Levin - vocals on "Lunar Room"
  • Jessica Kion - vocals on "Lunar Room"
  • Ross Jennings - vocals on "Twisted Shadows"
  • Jordan Rudess - keyboard solo on "Twisted Shadows"
  • Marco Sfogli - guitar solo on "Lunar Room"
  • David Maxim Micic - guitar solo on "Silken Chains"
  • Chris Baum - strings on "Afterglow"
  • Adam Carrillo - saxophone on "Cocoon"

Technical personnel

  • Richard Henshall - production
  • Simon Grove - production, reamping, mixing and mastering
  • Joe Hamilton - additional drum editing
  • Sevcan Yuksel Henshall - artwork

.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}body.skin-vector-2022 .mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:27em}body.skin-vector-2022 .mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:22.5em}.mw-parser-output .references[data-mw-group=upper-alpha]{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .references[data-mw-group=upper-roman]{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .references[data-mw-group=lower-alpha]{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .references[data-mw-group=lower-greek]{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .references[data-mw-group=lower-roman]{list-style-type:lower-roman}.mw-parser-output div.reflist-liststyle-upper-alpha .references{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output div.reflist-liststyle-upper-roman .references{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output div.reflist-liststyle-lower-alpha .references{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output div.reflist-liststyle-lower-greek .references{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output div.reflist-liststyle-lower-roman .references{list-style-type:lower-roman}

.mw-parser-output .asbox{position:relative;overflow:hidden}.mw-parser-output .asbox table{background:transparent}.mw-parser-output .asbox p{margin:0}.mw-parser-output .asbox p+p{margin-top:0.25em}.mw-parser-output .asbox-body{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output .asbox-note{font-size:smaller}.mw-parser-output .asbox .navbar{position:absolute;top:-0.75em;right:1em;display:none}.mw-parser-output :not(p):not(.asbox)+style+.asbox,.mw-parser-output :not(p):not(.asbox)+link+.asbox{margin-top:3em}