Home » Jazz Articles » Rediscovery » No-Man: Together We're Stranger

18

No-Man: Together We're Stranger

By

Sign in to view read count
No-Man—Together We're StrangerNo-Man
Together We're Stranger (remastered/expanded)
Kscope
2014 (2003)

With Steven Wilson on the cusp of releasing Hand. Cannot. Erase. (Kscope, 2015), and Tim Bowness' Abandoned Dancehall Dreams (Inside Out, 2014) one of 2014's best releases, now's as good a time as any to revisit the pair's music together as No-Man—specifically, Together We're Stranger (Snapper, 2003), reissued last year on Kscope in a remastered and expanded edition that sounds even better on the Tetra listening instruments that were one of two reasons for starting this Rediscovery column.

It's hard to imagine that Bowness and Wilson first came together in 1987, when the singer was 23 and the multi-instrumentalist who'd go on to greater fame in a number of projects, including his flagship Porcupine Tree, was just 19. But from the outset, the duo's music as No-Man—which first began as a trio with violinist Ben Coleman on the group's 1993 debut, Loveblows and Lovecries—A Confession (One Little Indian), but quickly pared down to a duo by the time of Flowermouth (One Little Indian, 1994), albeit invariably with the participation of numerous invited guests—was a mélange of styles that should, in retrospect, be no surprise to fans of either artist. Both Bowness—in subsequent projects like Henry Fool and his own infrequent solo work—and Wilson (who, in addition to other projects, has become an important go-to guy for new surround sound and stereo mixes of classic progressive rock and, more recently, just plain pop albums) possess voracious musical appetites, and their individual and collective refusal to become boxed in by any reductionist definition is what has ultimately rendered No-Man's six studio recordings and two live recordings so distinctive...and so ultimately important in defining their respective careers.

The only apt word that can describe No-Man's music is: beautiful. Of course, beautiful can mean many things, and No-Man built a reputation on exploring the many possibilities of the word and its relationship to the human condition. And while there are those who will apply other epithets such as trip hop, art rock, synth pop, dream pop, folk music and ambient, the truth born out by this reissue that includes two bonus tracks—the harmonium-driven "bluecoda" (harmonium provided by keyboardist Roger Eno) and a second version of the album-closing "the break-up for real," that augments Wilson's driving acoustic guitar and layers of additional instruments and vocals with David Picking's propulsive percussion—is that this is music informed by all those things..and much, much more.

The eight-minute title track that opens Together We're Stranger is a good case in point. Beginning with Stephen Bennett's drone of noise that seems atypically harsh for No-Man's characteristically beautiful music while, ultimately, making perfect sense given the subject matter, it soon dissipates, leaving Peter Chilver's sinewy "space bass." Wilson's warm synth cushions are ultimately augmented by lush, tremelo- driven guitar chords and Michael Bearpark's volume pedal-driven electric guitar solo, which respects the simple demands of the song's three-chord form. Bowness' lyrics are as spare as he's ever been—saying little but intimating much, sung with his characteristically unaffected, sparsely ornamented delivery:


"We step outside
And face the poisoned weather.

You and I are something else together.

Arm in arm,
We'd waste our charms forever.

Drifting off, despite the cost,
Afraid to ask for better.

You and I are something else together.


Listening to Together We're Stranger twelve years later, the construction of the music reveal so much of what's to come in the songwriting styles of both Bowness and Wilson, in particular Wilson's ability to construct longer-form pieces—like those he would ultimately reveal on solo albums like The Raven That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories) (Kscope, 2013)—which unfold slowly like a flower at sunrise, and use instruments in atypical ways. Those who are surprised to hear his use of banjo on Hand. Cannot. Erase's "Regret #9" will be less so when they revisit Together We're Stranger and hear his equally uncharacteristic use of the instrument, plucked sparsely, as the song gradually builds to its gorgeous, near-hymnal conclusion.

That Together We're Stranger received the lowest rating of any No-Man album by AllMusic.com (a paltry two stars) while garnering the highest ranking of any of the group's recordings at Progarchives.com (more than four out of five) only demonstrates how superficial such simple metrics can be. Instead, isn't it better to consider this—or any album, for that matter—with the most important things you've got at your disposal: your ears, your mind, your heart?

Together We're Stranger may distinguish itself from other no- man albums through its greater predilection for acoustic guitar, but Wilson's arrangements are as richly layered, minutely detailed and flat-out gorgeous as they've ever been. Add Bowness' lyrical prowess—here, at one of many high points he's reached throughout his career—and Together We're Stranger stands as good as anything the duo ever released together. And with the exceptional detail, rich sonics and complete clarity revealed by this remastered and expanded reissue, now's the perfect time to revisit and rediscover this album of profound beauty and haunting perception.


So, what are your thoughts? Do you know this record, and if so, how do you feel about it?


[Note: You can read the genesis of this Rediscovery column here.]

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Jazz article: Herbie Hancock: Thrust
Jazz article: Miles Davis: Bitches Brew

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.