Somewhere (somehow) between the feverish grooves of Madchester and the anthemic charge of the Britpop brigade, musically eclectic mavericks No-Man made a small mark on the early 1990s UK Independent music scene.
The band released two albums and series of singles on the influential OLI label (Björk, The Shamen etc.) which generated rave reviews (Singles Of The Week in Melody Maker, Sounds and Hot Press) and radio / TV play aplenty (BBC Radio One sessions / playlist, appearances on MTV, Channel Four and ITV1).
Housekeeping features the band’s first two albums ‘Loveblows & Lovecries’ (1993) and ‘Flowermouth’ (1994), along with the singles compilation ‘Lovesighs’ (1992). The deluxe 5CD box set also contains outtakes, alternate versions and the band’s sessions for BBC Radio from the period (which reveal a very different, more visceral side to the band).
Formed by Tim Bowness and Steven Wilson, the band also included violinist Ben Coleman, and the albums featured notable appearances by Mick Karn and Steve Jansen (Japan), Robert Fripp, Ian Carr, Lisa Gerard (Dead Can Dance), and soon-to-be Porcupine Tree members Richard Barbieri, Chris Maitland and Colin Edwin. Containing driving electronic pop music, epic ambient rock suites and emotive groove-enhanced ballads, Housekeeping is a lovingly compiled tribute to the creative anomaly that is (and was) No-Man. Designed by Carl Glover, the hardback book includes essays by Matt Hammers (author of No-Man blog, All The Blue Changes), Tim Bowness and Steven Wilson, alongside rare photos and memorabilia.
Released: January 2024
Cat: TPLP1709BOX
Label: One Little Independent Records
Listen
Tracklist
1. Heartcheat Pop
2. Days in the Trees - US Remix
3. Drink Judas
4. Heartcheat Motel
5. Kiss Me Stupid
6. Colours
7. Iris Murcdoch - Cut Me Up
8. Days in the Trees - Reich
9. Days in the Trees - Ives
10. Days in the Trees - Bartok
11. Walker
12. Road
13. Loveblow
14. Only Baby
15. Housekeeping
16. Sweetheart Raw
17. Lovecry
18. Tulip
19. Break Heaven
20. Beautiful and Cruel
21. Painting Paradise
22. Heaven's Break
23. Taking It Like a Man
24. Babyship Blue
25. Tulip - Unedited Master
26. Ocean Song
27. Back to the Burning Shed
28. Swirl
29. Sweetheart Raw - Full Length Version
30. Bleed
31. Only Baby - Breathe For Me
32. Only Baby - Be For Me
33. Long Day Fall
34. Painting Paradise - Re-recording
35. Heaven Taste
36. Angel Gets Caught in the Beauty Trap
37. You Grow More Beautiful
38. Animal Ghost
39. Soft Shoulders
40. Shell of a Fighter
41. Teardrop Fall
42. Watching Over Me
43. Simple
44. Things Change
45. Break Heaven - Nicky Campbell Session
46. Heatcheat Pop - Nicky Campbell Session
47. Housekeeping - Nicky Campbell Session
48. Ocean Song - Hit the North Session
49. Days in the Trees - Hit the North Session
50. Taking It Like a Man - Hit the North Session
51. Lovecry - GLR Session
52. Days in the Trees - GLR Session
53. Sweetheart Raw - The Way Out Session
54. Teardrop Fall - Acoustic Session
55. Watching Over Me - Acoustic Session
56. Shell of a Fighter - Acoustic Session
57. You Grow More Beautiful - Acoustic Session