Tim Bowness's third solo album, 'Stupid Things That Mean The World' was released in July, […]
October 23, 2015
Tim Bowness's third solo album, 'Stupid Things That Mean The World' was released in July, reaching number 10 in both the National Rock Albums chart and National Vinyl chart, as well as featuring at number 9 in the first ever UK Prog Albums chart. Now he is pleased to reveal the ethereal new video for 'Sing To Me' which you can see here:
Tim Comments:
Originally a no-man demo called Best Boy Electric, I heard this for the first time in over 20 years when Steven Wilson sent it to me in October 2014 for consideration for the reissue of no-man's Lost Songs album.
I'd completely forgotten the song, and on hearing it again couldn't believe we'd not pursued it further. The no-man version was skeletal with an improvised, incomplete lyric. It also featured a bizarre coda in 7/8 featuring me doing uncharacteristic choking and screaming noises as SW randomly pounced on a Hammond Organ like a frenzied toddler. It was written soon after Flowermouth had been released in the Summer of 1994. In retrospect, I can only guess that the idea was dropped as it was something that didn't fit our idea of where we wanted to take no-man on the band's next album. Regardless of the reason, it was quickly abandoned.
On re-hearing the song in 2014, it immediately felt special to me and I knew where I'd like to take it musically. A new lyric was written as were a couple of new instrumental themes. The demented 7/8 coda was ditched (though attempted) and Stephen Bennett suggested doubling the first half of the song, which led to my demand for epic Bearpark and Phoebe solos (transforming them into Classic Rock 'foot on the monitor' titans!).
One of my favorite songs on the album, it reminds me of aspects of the early no-man that I loved, while also feeling very much a part of the music I'm currently making."
Tim and his band also recently played some select live dates in the UK and Poland, with Prog Magazine recently commenting on the London date:
"A wonderful night of Bowness at his best ' a quietly pivotal figure in contemporary progressive music."
The Latest Album Can Be Purchased From The Following Links:
The album received some brilliant reactions upon release, and you can find a select few below:
"Ambitious art-rock and straight-forward singer-songwriter sensitivity" ' Prog Magazine
"an absorbing, plaintive record that gets under your skin." ' Record Collector
"music which conjures up visions ranging from the lavish and expansive to the delicate and intimate." ' Louder Than War
"An album of quite outstanding brilliance. Sublime." - Echoes And Dust
"A contender for my Album of the Year, no question. "Is it prog?" you may ask. Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn!" - The Progressive Aspect
Tim is currently planning live dates for early 2016 and working on a future studio single and live album.
A year on from the acclaimed Abandoned Dancehall Dreams, Bowness returns with this powerful and eclectic new record. Produced by Bowness and mixed by The Pineapple Thief's Bruce Soord (who also adds some choice guitar parts), 'Stupid Things That Mean The World' features a core of Bowness along with members of the No-Man live band (Stephen Bennett, Michael Bearpark, Andrew Booker) and Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree), augmented by contributions from Peter Hammill, Phil Manzanera, Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson), Anna Phoebe, David Rhodes (Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, Scott Walker), and Rhys Marsh. As on Abandoned Dancehall Dreams, Classical composer Andrew Keeling, best known for his work with The Hilliard Ensemble, Evelyn Glennie and Robert Fripp, provides striking string arrangements. The album was mastered by The Pineapple Thief's Steve Kitch.
The beautiful artwork for the album was once again done by I Monster's Jarrod Gosling, and you can see that below. The album will be available as Double CD Media book featuring a companion disc of alternate mixes and demos (including an unreleased No-Man demo from 1994), as well as a gatefold vinyl LP with CD & digital download.
Tim Bowness is primarily known as vocalist/co-writer with the band No-Man, a long-running collaboration with Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree). In addition to releasing six studio albums and a documentary DVD with No-Man, Tim has worked with popular Italian artist Alice, Robert Fripp, Hugh Hopper (Soft Machine), OSI and Roxy Music's Phil Manzanera (amongst many others), and is a member of the bands Henry Fool and Memories Of Machines.
