No Man: Painting Paradise EP (1993) 93TP12

Can’t say that I’m too knowledgeable on No Man but this was a big favourite with me. Until ripping it from the vinyl, I hadn’t listened to it in eons and although it has that mid 90’s style production and a bit of that dated ethnic chill out feel – it’s an epic piece of music.

Ignore the A side which is a pop song very much of the time that has dated badly; it’s the monstrous flipside ‘Heaven Taste’ where it all happens. All you need to do is to look at the musicians involved – Mick Karn, Steve Jansen & Richard Barbieri from Japan as well as the mighty Steve Wilson just before he moved onto bigger things with prog titans The Porcupine Tree. Sprawling on for over 20 minutes it’s a bit like Pink Floyd meets Massive Attack.

While mentioning Steve Wilson – big thanks to him for doing an exclusive mix for my long since deceased website back before podcast was even a word. He mixed up a selection of remixes and exclusive ambient material under the Bass Communion alias. I think he eventually released it through his own website.


A. Painting Paradise
B. Heaven Taste