No-Man
Vorlage:Infobox Musical artist
No-Man is a British duo formed in 1987 as No Man Is An Island (Except The Isle Of Man) by Tim Bowness and Steven Wilson (also of Porcupine Tree).
The band has so far produced five studio albums and a number of singles/outtakes collections (most notably, 2006's career retrospective, All The Blue Changes).
Originally creating a sample-based proto-Trip-Hop/Ambient/Electro-Pop styled music, No-Man's sound has become more organic, diverse and band-orientated in subsequent years.
The name No-Man was adopted in 1990 and first used on the self-released June 1990 single release, Colours (a cover of the 1960s Donovan song). The single achieved Melody Maker and Sounds Singles Of The Week accolades and was re-released by Liverpool-based label Probe Plus in October, 1990
Between 1991 and 1994, No-Man were managed by Talk Talk's manager Keith Aspden. During this period, the band received highly positive UK music media support (including more Singles Of The Week in Melody Maker, Sounds and Irish music paper, Hot Press), had 2 indie top 20 hits (Days In The Trees and Ocean Song), a Billboard Top 40 dance hit (the US only single, Taking It Like A Man) and had high profile contracts with One Little Indian, Hit & Run Publishing and Epic/Sony.
Subsequently, mirroring the evolution of artists such as Talk Talk, David Sylvian, Radiohead, Scott Walker and Kate Bush, with each successive release, the band has moved further away from its more conventional Pop/Rock roots.
Since the mid-1990s, No-Man has released material via Snapper Music, Third Stone/Adasam and internet label, Burning Shed.
Included amongst the many artists and guest musicians the band has worked with are electronic artists Roger Eno, Faultline, Scanner, Muslimgauze and The Shamen, Jazz musicians Ian Carr and Theo Travis, and the legendary likes of King Crimson personnel, Robert Fripp, Pat Mastelotto and Mel Collins, and ex-Japan members, Jansen, Barbieri and Karn.
Drawing from a diverse mix of Singer-songwriter, Post Rock, Minimalist, Progressive Rock, Jazz, and Contemporary Ambient sources for inspiration, No-Man's sound is distinctive, yet difficult to categorise.
Creating a fusion of experimental electronic soundscapes and sensitive acoustic songs for its last album, Together We're Stranger, it's difficult to predict how the band's music will develop on its future recordings.
In early January, 2008, the band's website and MySpace page announced that a new album, Schoolyard Ghosts, is to be released in May, 2008. Guest musicians include Pat Mastelotto, Theo Travis, Gavin Harrison, Bruce Kaphan (ex-American Music Club) and The London Session Orchestra (arranged by Dave Stewart).
Discography
Studio Albums
- Loveblows & Lovecries - A Confession (1993)
- Flowermouth (1994)
- Wild Opera (1996)
- Returning Jesus (2001)
- Together We're Stranger (2003)
- Schoolyard Ghosts (2008)
Compilations/Other
- Lovesighs - An Entertainment (1992) -Mini Album-
- Heaven Taste (1995)
- Flowermix (1995)
- Dry Cleaning Ray (1997)
- Radio Sessions: 92-96 (1998)
- Speak (1999)
- Lost Songs Vol - 1 (2001)
- All The Blue Changes - An Anthology 1988–2003 (2006)
Singles and EPs
- Colours (1990)
- Days In The Trees (1991)
- Ocean Song (1992)
- Sweetheart Raw (1993) - Mail Order Only
- Only Baby (1993)
- Painting Paradise (1993)
- Taking It Like a Man (1994) - US Only
- Housewives Hooked On Heroin (1996)
- Dry Cleaning Ray (1997) - Vinyl Only Release
- Carolina Skeletons (1998)
- All That You Are (2003)
- The Break-Up for Real (2007)