SCHOOLYARD GHOSTS

Tim Bowness is a very sombre person. His lyrics detect a bit of irony sometimes, but to be honest, he does say some colloquila phrases now and then to grab the listener's attention (I think he mentions pub quiz a few times)

No-Man have kind of faded in and out of everyones lives, with their early trip hop days and early pop melodies thrown in to the creative fire. They've now become a little more Prog, with the fact that Tim's own personal musician (or slave as i like to call him) Steven Wilson own amazing band Porcupine Tree (if you haven't heard of them...get out of town) had seen their own sucess, ever since they started to move away from their crazy psychadellic days.

This album was a great album. It was full of beauty, eeire atomsphere & the work of a genius behind the instruments (Steven Wilson). There was some things that I would have arranged better (like the odd vocal harmony every once in a while, have Steven sing a few songs, cause to be honest, I prefer him as a vocalist, and mabye a more prominent rythym section.) Although, with trip hop and post rock, it's more about the atmosphere of the music, rather than the personal individuality of the songs. (No one ever sings a Godspeed You Black Emperor song, except for psychiatric patients)

1. All Sweet Things - This is a very beautiful song, that reminds me of Pink Floyd & The Velvet Underground. It's very melancholic in a Smashing Pumpkins sort of way. The added ambience adds to the mood. The ending is very abrupt as well...

2. Beautiful Songs You Should Know - I love the title of this song. It reminds me of a slower Smashing Pumpkins song, with an eerie twist. Still a great song.

3. Pigeon Drummer - WTF!!! What is up with the massive heavy bit. I know Steven had flirted with metal, but with No-Man it seemed a bit out of place. But I wasn't expecting it, so cuodos. The rest of the song is incredibly eerie and the ambience adds to the horror.

4. Truenorth - A very weird song. A chimy piano part over a lovely string section is prominant and rememerable. The middle section has a Van Der Graaf Generator vibe to it, and some ideas taken from The Incredible String Band. The end parts reminds me of a sinister version of Pink Floyd. The strings accompanying the music box is very beautiful and well crafted. The end reminds me of Eels. (Not the fish, the band)

5. Wherever There Is Light - Reminds me of the Porcupine Tree song Feel So Low. The strings and flute sections are very beautiful. The music reminds me of Final Fantasy.

6. Song Of The Surf - The slide guitar in this song is quite cool. Again, another Velvet Underground sounding song.

7. Streaming - Imagine Eels, jamming with Massive Attack...then this is the song for you.

8. Mixtaped - A very laid back song. Very experimental and more ambience than an actual song.

CONCLUSION - This wouldn't be the best No-Man album, but it's still a great buy for anyone who has money...

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