What better way to blog about the release of the No-Man DVD “Mixtaped” than with a No-Man mixtape? I meant to do this back in August/September after going to the preview screening of the DVD (a documentary called “Mixtaped” on one disk, and a live show called “Returning” on the second disk) but as usual lack of time won the battle with my good intentions.

Like a lot of people I came to No-Man through Porcupine Tree, and probably like a lot of people they were a slow-burner for me. Nowadays while Porcupine Tree excite me and I eagerly await every next release, I find I listen to No-Man just as much if not more than them.

The documentary DVD is unusual in that with most bands if you like them enough to buy the DVD you probably know pretty much everything about them already. But No-Man have led such a low-key existence that it’s packed with surprises. Who would have thought, for example, that it was Tim Bowness and not Steven Wilson who had the sillier hair! Although Wilson does beat him in the daft hat stakes. There are a few gaps in it though, for example when talking about the One Little Indian years they mention that they would regret “what would come next” without saying exactly what it was.

The live DVD is great, although I was a bit surprised that they “rocked up” their live sound. Never having seen or heard them live I’d always imagined more of a jazz club feel to their shows – having said that it’s a terrific performance and it is no surprise that they’re as tight as a gnat’s chuff.

Check it out, and enjoy it.

Playlist:

1. Walker (from the compilation “All The Blue Changes”)
2. Break Heaven (from “Loveblows & Lovecries”)
3. Things Change (from “Flowermouth”)
4. Angeldust (from “Flowermouth”)
5. Pretty Genius (from “Wild Opera”)
6. Sweetside Silver Night (from “Dry Cleaning Ray”)
7. Night Sky Sweet Earth (from “Speak”)
8. Only Rain (from “Returning Jesus”)
9. No Defence (from “Returning Jesus”)
10. Back When You Were Beautiful (from “Together We’re Stranger”)
11. All Sweet Things (from “Schoolyard Ghosts”)
12. Truenorth (from “Schoolyard Ghosts”)