More than a decade since their last release NO-MAN return to their more synthetic roots with the new album ‘Love You To Bits’. The release harks back to earlier NO-MAN works such as ‘Loveblows & Lovecries’ and ‘Flowermouth’ and is bound to throw anyone more familiar with the later recorded output from Messrs Bowness and Wilson. The mirrorball on the sleeve should give a clue to the content within. Continue Reading ›

Lauded by Drowned in Sound as “probably the most underrated band of the last 25 years”, NO-MAN have had a career that has stylistically covered pop, art rock and TALK TALK flavoured balladeering. It's a fantastic mix of GOLDFRAPP, KRAFTWERK and ROBERT FRIPP which underpins a wonderful vocal performance from Tim Bowness who took time out to discuss the album with The Electricity Club. Continue Reading ›

It may be perhaps surprising to learn that one-time JAPAN sound designer and synth technician Richard Barbieri has only released three solo albums. But since JAPAN disbanded in 1982, he has composed and recorded a large amount of material that until recently has remained unreleased. So the five volume ‘Variants’ series has gathered together new compositions, improvisations, live performances and re-workings of older material. Continue Reading ›

Supporting the release of his third solo album ‘Planets + Persona’, RICHARD BARBIERI presented an intimate live show that covered many facets of his recording career from JAPAN to PORCUPINE TREE. While Barbieri’s rig featured the expected all mod cons like a MacBook, controllers and a Roland V-Synth, the set-up also included his beloved Sequential Prophet 5 and Roland System 700 Lab Series. Continue Reading ›

Synth maestro RICHARD BARBIERI releases his most sonically expansive album yet in ‘Planets + Persona’. But despite a recording career of nearly 40 years, which began as a member the innovative art muzak combo JAPAN, ‘Planets + Persona’ is only Barbieri’s third solo work. Over the intervening years, he has worked with his former band mates in various guises, Steve Hogarth of MARILLION and most notably, prog rockers PORCUPINE TREE. Continue Reading ›