Flowermouth
Encyclopedia
Flowermouth is the second studio album by British duo No-Man
, released on April, 1994 on the One Little Indian Records
label, and subsequently reissued on September, 1999 by 3rd. Stone Ltd, and in a deluxe format by Snapper Music
in February 2005.
Flowermouth was considered the band's most ambitious album to date, and remains a fan favourite. Despite being the band's best selling release, it was obvious by now that No-Man
couldn't continue along the path which their record company wanted them to follow. Following Flowermouth's release, No-Man
parted company with both One Little Indian in Britain and Epic/Sony in the US.
Long-term band member Ben Coleman had left prior to the album's release and by 1994, the band had effectively retired from live performance.
Considered a vitally important evolution, the album realised the expansive promise of the band's earlier material. Combining dream pop
, art rock
and moody minimalism, with an epic orchestral scope, Flowermouth was well served by the guest performances of Japan/Rain Tree Crow's Jansen and Barbieri, King Crimson
's Robert Fripp
and Mel Collins, jazz trumpeter Ian Carr and eerie Dead Can Dance
singer Lisa Gerrard.
The original One Little Indian version of Flowermouth features several slightly different mixes to the ones featured on the later reissues.
For this second reissue, Steven
has delivered a definitive remaster and the band have added two bonus tracks to the running order ("Angeldust" and "Born Simple", both originally from the now-deleted
"Flowermix
" album and featuring extensive Soundscape contributions from Robert Fripp
). The reissue also features improved digi-pack artwork and new sleevenotes containing a combined band interview/essay by music journalist Dann Chinn.
with:
No-Man
No-Man are a British art-pop duo formed in 1987 as No Man Is An Island by singer Tim Bowness and multi-instrumentalist Steven Wilson . The band has so far produced six studio albums and a number of singles/outtakes collections...
, released on April, 1994 on the One Little Indian Records
One Little Indian Records
One Little Indian Records is a London-based independent record label that rose from the ashes of punk record company Spiderleg Records. It was set up in 1985 by members of various anarchist punk bands, and managed by ex-Flux of Pink Indians Derek Birkett. The first success came with A.R. Kane and...
label, and subsequently reissued on September, 1999 by 3rd. Stone Ltd, and in a deluxe format by Snapper Music
Snapper Music
Snapper Music is an independent record label founded in 1996 by former head of Castle Communications Jon Beecher, Dougie Dudgeon and funded by the late Mark Levinson from Palan Music Publishing. In 1999 Snapper broke away from its parent company in an MBO in association with ACT and CAI venture...
in February 2005.
Flowermouth was considered the band's most ambitious album to date, and remains a fan favourite. Despite being the band's best selling release, it was obvious by now that No-Man
No-Man
No-Man are a British art-pop duo formed in 1987 as No Man Is An Island by singer Tim Bowness and multi-instrumentalist Steven Wilson . The band has so far produced six studio albums and a number of singles/outtakes collections...
couldn't continue along the path which their record company wanted them to follow. Following Flowermouth's release, No-Man
No-Man
No-Man are a British art-pop duo formed in 1987 as No Man Is An Island by singer Tim Bowness and multi-instrumentalist Steven Wilson . The band has so far produced six studio albums and a number of singles/outtakes collections...
parted company with both One Little Indian in Britain and Epic/Sony in the US.
Long-term band member Ben Coleman had left prior to the album's release and by 1994, the band had effectively retired from live performance.
Considered a vitally important evolution, the album realised the expansive promise of the band's earlier material. Combining dream pop
Dream pop
Dream pop is a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid-1980s, when bands like The Passions, Dif Juz, Lowlife and A.R. Kane began fusing post-punk and ethereal experiments with bittersweet pop melodies into dreamy, sensual soundscapes. The term was almost...
, art rock
Art rock
Art rock is a subgenre of rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, with influences from art, avant-garde, and classical music. The first usage of the term, according to Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, was in 1968. Influenced by the work of The Beatles, most notably their Sgt...
and moody minimalism, with an epic orchestral scope, Flowermouth was well served by the guest performances of Japan/Rain Tree Crow's Jansen and Barbieri, King Crimson
King Crimson
King Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
's Robert Fripp
Robert Fripp
Robert Fripp is an English guitarist, composer and record producer. He was ranked 42nd on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and #47 on Gibson.com’s "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". Among rock guitarists, Fripp is a master of crosspicking, a technique...
and Mel Collins, jazz trumpeter Ian Carr and eerie Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance are an ethereal neoclassical duo formed in Melbourne, Australia, in August 1981, by Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. The band relocated to London in May 1982 and disbanded in 1998. Their 1996 album Spiritchaser reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top World Music Albums Chart...
singer Lisa Gerrard.
The original One Little Indian version of Flowermouth features several slightly different mixes to the ones featured on the later reissues.
For this second reissue, Steven
Steven Wilson
Steven John Wilson is an English musician, best known as the founder, lead guitarist, singer and songwriter of progressive rock band Porcupine Tree...
has delivered a definitive remaster and the band have added two bonus tracks to the running order ("Angeldust" and "Born Simple", both originally from the now-deleted
Deletion (music industry)
Deletion is a music industry term referring to the removal of a record or records from a label's official catalog, so that it is out of print, but usually at a record artist's request....
"Flowermix
Flowermix
Flowermix is a remix album by British Art rock band No-Man made by the band and selected underground remixers. It is a compilation of remixed and reworked songs from their Flowermouth album.-Cassette:...
" album and featuring extensive Soundscape contributions from Robert Fripp
Robert Fripp
Robert Fripp is an English guitarist, composer and record producer. He was ranked 42nd on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and #47 on Gibson.com’s "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". Among rock guitarists, Fripp is a master of crosspicking, a technique...
). The reissue also features improved digi-pack artwork and new sleevenotes containing a combined band interview/essay by music journalist Dann Chinn.
Track listing
- "Angel Gets Caught In The Beauty Trap" – 9:56
- "You Grow More Beautiful" – 5:37
- "Animal Ghost" – 6:09
- "Soft Shoulders" – 3:57
- "Shell Of A Fighter" – 7:48
- "Teardrop Fall" – 4:37
- "Watching Over Me" – 4:48
- "Simple" – 7:03
- "Things Change" – 7:31
2005 Remaster
- "Angel Gets Caught In The Beauty Trap" – 10:33
- "You Grow More Beautiful" – 5:26
- "Animal Ghost" – 6:09
- "Soft Shoulders" – 3:59
- "Shell Of A Fighter" – 7:50
- "Teardrop Fall" – 4:39
- "Watching Over Me" – 4:43
- "Simple" – 7:03
- "Things Change" – 7:31
- "Angeldust" – 9:11
- "Born Simple" – 12:09
Personnel
- Tim BownessTim BownessTim Bowness is a singer/songwriter primarily known for his work as part of the band No-Man, a long-term project formed in 1987 with Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson.-Music career:...
– vocals, words - Steven WilsonSteven WilsonSteven John Wilson is an English musician, best known as the founder, lead guitarist, singer and songwriter of progressive rock band Porcupine Tree...
– instruments
with:
- Richard BarbieriRichard BarbieriRichard Barbieri, is an English synthesiser player, keyboardist and composer. He was educated at Catford Boys' School, Catford, South East London...
– electronics (5) - Ian CarrIan CarrIan Carr was a Scottish jazz musician, composer, writer, and educator.-Early years:Carr was born in Dumfries, Scotland, the elder brother of Mike Carr...
– trumpet (1) - Ben Coleman – violins (1,3,4,5,6,7), electric violin (9)
- Mel CollinsMel CollinsMel Collins is a British saxophonist and flautist and session musician.He has worked in a wide variety of contexts ranging from R&B and blues rock to jazz, but is perhaps known for his work in progressive rock, as with King Crimson, Camel and the Alan Parsons Project.-Career:Collins has worked...
– soprano saxophone (1), flute (3,6) - Robert FrippRobert FrippRobert Fripp is an English guitarist, composer and record producer. He was ranked 42nd on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and #47 on Gibson.com’s "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". Among rock guitarists, Fripp is a master of crosspicking, a technique...
– guitar (1,3,5,6,8), frippertronics (1,5,8,9) - Lisa GerrardLisa GerrardLisa Gerrard is an Australian musician, singer, and composer who rose to prominence as part of the music group Dead Can Dance with former music partner Brendan Perry....
– voice sample (8) - Steve JansenSteve JansenSteve Jansen is an English drummer, percussionist, singer and composer. He was educated at Catford Boys' School, Catford, South East London, where he failed academically, leaving at 16....
– percussion (7) - Chris MaitlandChris MaitlandChris Maitland is an English drummer.After being the drummer for No-Man on their Autumn 1993 tour , Maitland was asked by the band's Steven Wilson to join his other main project, the progressive rock band Porcupine Tree...
– drums (1,9), percussion (1,3) - Silas Maitland – fretless bass (1)
Release history
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | April 1994 | One Little Indian | CD | TPLP67CD |
| United Kingdom | April 1994 | One Little Indian | Vinyl | TPLP67 |
| United Kingdom | April 1994 | One Little Indian | Cassette Compact Cassette The Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel... |
TPLP67MC |
| Japan | April 1994 | One Little Indian | CD | COCY-78166 |
| United Kingdom | September 1999 | 3rd Stone Ltd. | CD Remastered Edition | STONE 045CD |
| United Kingdom | July 2003 | Hidden Art | CD Reissue Reissue A reissue is the repeated issue of a published work. In common usage, it refers to an album which has been released at least once before and is released again, sometimes with alterations or additions.... |
HI-ART 17 |
| United Kingdom | October 2005 | Snapper Music Snapper Music Snapper Music is an independent record label founded in 1996 by former head of Castle Communications Jon Beecher, Dougie Dudgeon and funded by the late Mark Levinson from Palan Music Publishing. In 1999 Snapper broke away from its parent company in an MBO in association with ACT and CAI venture... |
CD Remaster Remaster Remaster is a word marketed mostly in the digital audio age, although the remastering process has existed since recording began... |
SDPCD195 |