Fine work - This is a really cool cd, I enjoy it mostly because it is produced by SW. Tim s voice is soothing and the musical production is so awesome. None of the songs are bad, and some moments in certain songs really blow me away. Cool stuff for suuuuure. :@
Sheer beauty!!! - This album is a must not only for avid fans but for everyone who s got discerning taste and is sensitive enough to discover each and every subtlety this record reveals after you have listened to it for yet another time. In my opinion this is the best offering in NO-MAN oeuvre. So buy this masterpiece and immerse yourself in the world of wisful beauty and addictive melancholy!
I hate to do this - I hate to be the first 4 star review for this release but let me say this first. This is easily 4.5 stars. I ve said a few times Amazon needs to change their scale to 1-10 so it would be easier to give releases like this 9 of 10. I would easily rank this as one of No-Mans best releases if not the best. It is definitely the best of their last 3 and it is not really comparable to some of their earlier releases (which I also love). So, why not 5 stars like all the others? Well, I just think the CD falls down at the end. When compared with the other songs on this release, Streaming and Mixtaped just are not of the same quality. Also, the King Crimson style drumming in Pigeon Drummer seems a bit out of place in this release (perhaps not surprisingly played by Pat Mastelotto of King Crimson). So, this is by no means a poor release....it is probably their best one, just not perfect. Given my past record of giving out 5 of 5 with my other reviews, I would say most of those could be knocked down to 4 also (with one exception).
Exquisite. - I agree with the comments of the previous reviewers. I think it s the best No-man album, but, moreover, it is one of the best albums you can buy. This music touchs your soul.
A Most Welcome Return - I don t know if this is their best album. Returning Jesus might get that nod on the basis of consistency alone. But Schoolyard Ghosts feels like the No-Man album that involved the most growth. In the five years since Together We re Stranger, Steven Wilson has made quantum leaps in his producing and mixing techniques. He brings all that to bear on a very diverse set of songs with perhaps the widest array of emotions yet heard on a No-Man release. Singer Tim Bowness has been quiet that last several years after a flurry of excellent releases in the early 2000 s. But the time between albums has been put to good use. Bowness now sharply draws his minimalist lyrics so that the songs cut right to the heart of each subject. And the melodicism and confidence in his voice has never been better. The epic, three part Truenorth is likely one of the definitive No-Man tracks. And All Sweet Things and Mixtaped aren t far behind. No-Man fans will be ecstatic about this album, and I would suggest that Porcupine Tree fans give it a go as well. Those who enjoy the more melodic side of PTree will find this essential.