No-Man is a duo made up of singer-songwriter Tim Bowness and the ubiquitous Steve Wilson (Porcupine Tree, Blackfield, Bass Communion…). Wherever There Is Light is a 5-track EP to bridge the gap between their 2008 release Schoolyard Ghosts and their upcoming live DVD Mixtaped.
If asked to describe this band in one word, the word would be "ambient". Bowness pens lyrics with a definite introspective, urban poet slant. His breathy voice just oozes melancholy. Wilson uses this project, it would appear, to appease his quieter musical side, painting a bleak, subdued sonic tapestry throughout.
The disc opens with the title track, a cut from their 2008 release. It's a beautiful ballad that features the US pedal steel player Bruce Kaplan, and the exquisite flute playing of Theo Travis. The next 2 numbers are original pieces written specifically for this EP. "Counting", in particular, is a haunting piece that has a little bit in common with Porcupine Tree's more ambient side. It builds inauspiciously from a simple drum beat, to a dark and mesmerising number. The audio portion of the EP ends with 2 live tracks, the first recordings from the band's 2008 mini-tour. The material obviously translates well from the studio to a live setting, with "All The Blue Changes" sounding particularly good, making us anticipate the DVD (we get both audio and video of it on the EP).
As an added bonus, we get some enhanced content. In this instance said content refers to a video of the title track, created by Grant Wakefield. It consists of a beautiful little movie made up primarily of nature scenes; which really fit well with the song. The other track is a preview of the upcoming DVD, which, like all Steve Wilson projects, promises to be a quality product.
If you're an unconditional Steve Wilson fan then you'll definitely want to pick this up. If you enjoy the mellower side of progressive rock, with a slight penchant towards a more modern, melodic sound, you may also find something of interest here.
Track Listing:
- Wherever There Is Light (4:21)
- Death Was California (3:02)
- Counting (4:24)
- Carolina Skeletons (live) (7:09)
- All The Blue Changes (live) (6:39)
Enhanced Content:
- Wherever There Is Light (video, directed by Grant Wakefield)
- All The Blue Changes (live at Bush Hall, London, 29/08/08)
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