No-man - live dvd

[user 1679]

Nothing firm yet and he doesn't mention 5.1 but even if it doesn't it's still probably of interest to many. Tim's updated his blog with the latest:
http://www.hotsdesign.co.uk/timbowness/2008diary.html

No-Man:

The live DVD, both in terms of audio soundtrack and visuals, has now been completed (and approved by myself and the man Wilson). A lovely looking document of a special performance, it captures well the soulful fragility and gritty dynamics of a gigging band that, for me at least, suggested new sonic possibilities for future No-Man music.

More interviews have been conducted for the documentary. Despite Richard Smith's professionalism and encouraging presence, yet again I think I realised how much I'd rather have silence as my soundtrack to what I'm sure will be an interesting chronicle of No-Man's career. Hopefully, Richard will agree to present me as a wildly gesticulating mute, or just write me out of my own history altogether! Words often seem inadequate to express intensely emotional experiences, and in conveying hopes and ideas I always feel embarrassed by how pretentious and repetitious they can sound spoken out loud. Overall, I'm left feeling that interviews (especially on camera) only seem to express a small aspect of a personality. On a personal level, I always feel as I've let both myself and the music down by being so woefully inarticulate. 2009 resolution number one - never speak again!

The two new No-Man studio pieces are coming together nicely and 'Maestro' Steve Bingham has added some mighty fine violin to the No-Man version of The Place Where You'd Hide. The pieces, which aren't scheduled for a new album, are likely to appear as extras on the forthcoming DVD, or as downloads.

At the moment, we're hoping that both DVDs will still be ready for a Spring 2009 release.

He also mentions his involvement in the Judy Dyble album that features Fripp, Mastelotto and Ian McDonald....very interesting!

 

[timbre4]

Neat stuff indeed! Thanks for posting the news... Judy Dyble want to hear more about that offshoot (re-visit?)

 

[user 1679]

I just got the new no-man cdep in the mail yesterday and it's got a couple cd-audio tracks and a video clip from the live show. I thought the live tracks sounded amazing - much better than I thought that band would come across live (dunno why I thought that really?) so I'm looking forward to the release.

(Great job on the recording of that one Neil!)

 

[neil wilkes]

I just got the new no-man cdep in the mail yesterday and it's got a couple cd-audio tracks and a video clip from the live show. I thought the live tracks sounded amazing - much better than I thought that band would come across live (dunno why I thought that really?) so I'm looking forward to the release.

(Great job on the recording of that one Neil!)

Thank You!
It was an interesting gig to record - I was stuck in a little area well out of the way round the back of the whole stage area. Only way to get sufficient isolation to hear what was going to HDD.

Nothing firm yet and he doesn't mention 5.1

Of course there's a 5.1 mix.......

 

[user 1679]

Just got the email from Burning Shed - there's a couple special showings of the DVD scheduled in August - guess that means a Sept release as rumored.

20 years after performing its debut concert at the venue, No-Man returns to The Rosemary Branch for the launch of the band's forthcoming double DVD, Mixtaped.

The presentation will consist of a special 70 minute preview of last year's Bush Hall performance (in widescreen and 5.1 surround sound), a 20 minute excerpt from the No-Man documentary Returning, and a 5.1 showing of the videos for Back When You Were Beautiful (especially commissioned for Mixtaped) and Wherever There Is Light.

There will be two screenings at 2pm and 7pm.

No-Man merchandise will be on sale and Tim Bowness, Steven Wilson and Mixtaped/Returning director Richard Smith will be in attendance at both showings.

Please note that tickets are extremely limited due to the size of the venue and no refunds can be given.

Venue location:
www.rosemarybranch.co.uk/location/

 

[user 1679]

Glad to see this finally has a confirmed release date (Oct 5) and as is often the case ordering from Burning Shed gets you a little bonus - a companion audio cd of highlights from the dvd:

http://www.burningshed.com/store/noman/product/271/1704/

 

[splinter7]

Sad to hear that Mixedtape has been delayed. Neil, any idea what went wrong and how long it will be until it comes out?

 

[hego]

link:
http://www.porcupinetree.com/

No-Man’s Mixtaped DVD which was meant to have been shipping has been delayed. Obviously Steven and Tim are extremely sorry for the delay and the disappointment this has caused. Technical difficulties beyond their control has meant that the discs have had to be re-designed and re-authored by Carl Glover and no less a prog legend than ex-Gentle Giant, Ray Schulman.

 

[user 1679]

I got an email from Burning Shed a week or so ago and they said they hoped to be shipping in a couple weeks...I hope that is the case and the delay is not a long one as I am *really* looking forward to this disc!

 

[splinter7]

Thanks for the info hego.
Sounds like the project's graphics and sound mix were both suspect?

 

[hego]

From the PT forum came this:

I talked to Tim Bowness about this and he said that the pre-sales have been good (in fact it's been Burning Shed's best seller for the last few months).

Re your second point - the original DVD author was given material to work with between January and July, yet only came up with menu designs and test discs in late September. The band considered the resulting work to be unfit for release (ie blurred images, pixellated graphics, occasionally faulty menus etc) and so rather than wait any longer for the original author to correct the errors, they decided to employ someone else.

The new menus have been designed by Carl Glover (lovely work, according to Tim) and the authoring is currently being done by Ray Schulman, who did the recent Genesis box sets.

So whilst the delay is frustrating for everyone (including the band), Tim has said that the completed DVDs will be a vast improvement on what would have been released initially.

 

[hego]

Also included on the dvd:

http://www.neilwhitman.co.uk/current.html

animation clip for the song, Back When You Were Beautiful

 

[user 1679]

Email today from Burning Shed has the package shipping next week now...

 

[user 1679]

Mine was shipped a few days ago...I am *so* looking forward to getting it...I'll be watching for the meninblue eagerly next week!

 

[rusinurbe]

Mines arrived curses no time to listen to it untill next week.

 

[Robert van Diggele]

Received the discs yesterday. Had a listen to the first dvd last night. Very intimate video part. i was only familiar with the Together we're stanger and Schoolyard Ghost songs, so I heard some new music too. All is played very professional.

At the beginning of Things Change Steven Wilson is listening and looking at the other musicians and it seems that Steven is reminded by Michael Bearpark (second guitarist) to start playing. (or so it looks to me anyway). Great violin work too in this song.

This morning I listened to the bonus cd. Bothe dvd and cd sound great, great work Neil!!!!!

The dvd is mixed superb. Guitars are seperated between right and left channels (front and rear). Violin and piano part come out good in the mix. Will listen to this more often the coming week. Haven't had time to look at dvd 2.

 

[Guy Robinson]

What is the 5.1? Dolby, DTS, DTS 96/24?

 

[von kulper]

I'd imagine it's standard DTS only. I don't think SW has ever released any DD surround mixes.

 

[user 1679]

Mine just arrived - it's DTS...will play it a bit later on when I'm done working.

 

[user 1679]

Okay, I had a chance to play the live disc and will get to the second disc a bit later on.

The visuals - nicely filmed, some nice close-ups and the "mood" of the music in conjunction with the stage lighting is captured well. Too many concert films make the stage far too bright for me and it loses something, doesn't feel like you're "there" at the show. That being said, they're not the most exciting lot to watch and there's no films etc like you'd at a Porcupine Tree show for instance.

The sound/music - top notch as I suspected it would be from the samples on the recent EP they released. Really superb recording and mix imho, the 5.1 mix fills the room well with the instruments, not just audience in the back, you're almost on stage amongst the musicians. Some of the arrangements really rock out a bit too, more than I would have expected from no-man. Ben Coleman's appearance at the end and his violin solo on "Things Change" is worth the price of admission.

Bottom line - I probably won't watch the live set that often but I'll certainly listen to it frequently. Superb music, performance and recording.