No-Man is the project of Steven Wilson of the Porcupine Tree associated with Tim Bowness for whom the year 2003 seems prolific. With a mini EP that gathers half a dozen tracks from the studio recordings of their previous opus, "Returning Jesus", they present us this new album. According to its creators, "Together We're a stranger" would be the most expressive and emotional of all no-man's albums.
First originality, the first four tracks of the album form a full 28 minutes. In a New-age style that had a certain success in the 80s, no-man takes us into a world of softness, quietness and peace. Every instrument, every effect, every rise in power, every chord, every note seems to be worked on to draw the listener into a kind of trance. Sweet voices, piano, clarinet, synthetic sounds have been used to create a cocoon, a muffled, warm, simple atmosphere in which one would like to curl up and not think about anything else.
The three other tracks without swearing with the first part present a more acoustic and rhythmic content. We find the same instruments, just as expressive but in a less intimate way.
"Together" is indeed the exceptional album expecting. So rare are the albums where every emotion, every state of mind transpires like here. Well-being, happiness, anxiety and melancholy are on the programme of this little marvel which only confirms the talent, even the genius of Steven Wilson, now an essential figure on the progressive scene.