FLOWERMOUTH

Underrated falls short; considering so many virtues. This Masterpiece has been going around since 1994. Featuring an *All-Star lineup, which actually works out as such. No gaps or expendable cuts. You will be turned on from start to finish. (Remastered version adds up some uneditted outtakes)

I certainly will not write a track by track review, but rest assure that each composition is daring and grounbreaking and each song fits perfectly one before, and after the other. The feeling in general as most of No-Man´s works is conceptual (unrequited and lost loves on this one). But this concept is so well threaded, that I was caught by far by the astounding variety of musical languages and last but not least: their INTELLIGENT AND EMOTIONAL compositions as their perfect-pitch performance. What really makes any kind of music go beyond the limits of an audience or genre. Why it ended in a Prog page is a Master-Stroke! Considering the authors themselves were aiming to create an album of "timeless pop" music!

I am thankful that their concept of pop goes beyond the well established walls of commercial formulas pushed by the markets. Pop itself it is not. Progressive frenzy and sublime moments of introspection as only this "duo" (Tim Bowness-vocals & lyrics, Steven Wilson:instruments) can deliver... And timeless; oh yesss!!! very much,1994 amazing!

Why 5 stars; because nothing comes close to this kind of perfection and austerity (with a line-up like that it would have been tempting to do the opposite!) in an ever evolving original style. Nothing sounds like No-Man but No-Man. And "Flowermouth" is unique even to them. In my opinion; I insist it has to do with the wide spectrum of musical languages they subtly cover on the way. So pop alone it is not exactly, prog it is completely and of the best kind! Do not miss this work!!

A Masterpiece from A to Z, 5 stars without blinking.

*Lisa Gerrard´s involvement is reduced to some loops,but she was so thrilled by the result ("Simple") that she allowed her name to appear in the guest-list.