THE BREAK-UP FOR REAL

This single is another well-crafted offering from the NO-MAN duo. The title track has drums added, giving the single a punchier arrangement than the corresponding album track, and I feel the treatment is entirely appropriate. A very PORCUPINE TREE-sounding track, given its harmonised chorus. 'Back When You Were Beautiful' is also culled from 'Together We're Stranger', and is another beauty, with searching lyrics and gorgeous accompaniment. '(bluecoda)' is a reprise of that album's opener and title track, and to my mind rounds off the album nicely. It's a puzzle why it only appears here (and on their 2006 compilation).

The highlight of the single has to be ROGER ENO's harmonium. Tasty.