Returning Jesus by No Man

At first, NO-MAN was the original band of Steven Wilson - and Porcupine Tree was his side project. Now its the other way around. Still, Returning Jesus by NO-MAN with Wilson, vocalist Tim Bowness, and others is a wonderful album released concurrently to Porcupine Tree’s popularity. And it is an artsy and mellow album that retains some qualities of Porcupine Tree. Much like a quieter and introverted Porcupine Tree, you can surely tell they are siblings. Plus I’ll volunteer a similar sort of magic that echoes a Brendan Perry-lead Dead Can Dance such as the Into the Labyrinth album, with its depressing echo and trench coat blues. Add the breathy chic of latter day Nina Simone and a touch of U2’s gentler side and No-Man‘s sound should retain these groups appeal as well. Bowness takes on all vocal similarities to the aforementioned groups ( Wilson, Perry, imagine a male version of Simone, Bono) and gently casts personal lyrics as if wishing upon a star. Bowness is also the star and NO-MAN conducts an evening sky where strings, muffled trumpets, diminutive beats and other sounds lay out a constellation of calm reflection.

Score 4/5
by Alzn

Haze by Aria (2002 Bleep)

Haze reminds me of the sophisticated attempts of the trip hop duo from Japan/New York - Cibbo Matto and their Stero Type A album. No attitude, no gurrrl power, and a little bit boring as opposed to Cibbo Matto's more succesful sounds in Viva! La Woman. Even if Aria introduces very smooth male and female rap - American style - on a couple of songs, this album still lacks that extra special punch. One problem is the poor lead role of Aria herself, a classically trained jazz and theater singer from Iceland who decided to put out a trip hop album. And with a cute and almost Asian type of soprano (almost like Cibbo's Miho Hattori), I find it hard to reason why her role hardly leads the vocal direction of this album. Basically, her voice is in the background with an echo. Other songs don't even feature her in the solo lead. One song has her going Tibetian monk chants in almost sampled style. Call me ignorant, but I'm guessing its Icelandic? Another, 'Ariella', sounds like it was meant as elevator music for the local Vietnamese Noodle House dining room a la 70s Ray Conniff or 90s Pizzicato 5(well that's not fair - P5 rules!). Its as if this band decided to prop up the backup singer as the vixen of the record label's marketing ploy. Haze - a calm album that you might enjoy but takes no chances at being anything special. score 2/5
by Alzn