Love And Endings

As already remarked by one reviewer, this "live" album isn't what you'd be expecting after listening to any of the studio albums. However, I reckon Wilson and Bowness knew their own game well enough to realise in advance that to take that path wouldn't have worked.

What you get instead is a selection of No-Man material that has to a greater or lesser extent been reworked - playing spot the song can be an interesting pastime. There's both a greater edge and an enhanced intimacy here that surpasses what you find on the studio albums and No-Man reach greater heights than previously achieved. I'm not for one minute intending to denigrate the studio work, but I believe there's an approach here that could lead them somewhere well worth going to.

Before listening to this album, I don't think I'd have been all that bothered about No-Man live. Afterwards? I'd sell my mum to do so.

I came to this album having heard the masterful No-Man albums "Together we're stranger" and "Schoolyard Ghosts" and I was expecting for more of the same although I wasn't sure quite how such ethereally beautiful music could be done live. Well the answer is, they haven't attempted to reproduce these albums instead they've backed the angst ridden vocals of Tim Bowness with a very different sound. And it works. Oh how it works. It's actually resulted in an album which is in many ways easier to listen to than the above which are albums that demand to be listened to intently in order to fully appreciate just how very good they are, while this is something that is more accessible.
As a bonus the DVD of the concert is an masterclass lesson in how less is more. No fancy camera angles, just for the most part filmed very simply and directly giving the very real feel of being there. Add to this the excellent sound quality and you've got a in concert DVD which is up there with the very best.

2 5 stars
1 4 , and 1 gave it a poor 1 !!!

No Man deserves heaps more than that . This release has less tracks than 2009 s Mixtaped , but captures the progression in those artists' interest in developing the music of No Man , on the Live format .

Playing live is not just repeating the work from the studio onstage , but feeling the song . The audience . The ' times ' . Etc . That gives the music life . "Close your eyes" was played live last year 2012 , in some Live dates in August and that's the type of song , that benefits and matures - if you will - if given that treatment

In the studio is one thing , but Live is another . And these days Bands that can satisfy tour per se , give a solid message to its audience that they're going for something perhaps more bold , if you can catch or read the boldness of the Live projects by these types of bands .

They need no more introduction . Many by now know them very well .

Their work is really over the top . They have other musical ventures , but in NM , is where S Wilson is seen in a different avenue than P Tree . And Tim Bowness' input to the fare - reading his entries on his Blog are quite valid . Is amongst the finest I've seen since early 70's Yes , King Crimson , Pete Sinfield . Genesis , Premiata FM and others ... Robin Guthrie is one of the other UK musicians whom I see on a similar plain , or level land as these artists .