Tim Bowness has already repeatedly proven himself as a top drawer songwriter and talent, being part of no-man with Steven Wilson as well as his previous solo work and contributions to other artists’ work, creating songs with such panache that it’s hard not to be blown away by the sheer beauty of it. After covering ‘Flowers at the Scene’, his previous release, last year, I’d already been hungry for more, so jumped on this new release with relish…
Straight away, I’m struck by his continuing ability to create work that sits so well at a juxtaposition to itself. Songs that combine a real atmosphere while remaining fairly minimalistic and that sound so happy until you peek at the subject matter beneath and see the writhing dark tendrils of divides, of violence and exclusion reaching out from the depths of the lyrics. It is in this exact place that Tim excels and his talents draw you in in a mesmerised state, willingly or not.
Opening tracks ‘Northern Rain’ and ‘I’m Better Now’ are perfect examples of how well crafted this album is, making for them being great choices as opening singles from the album. ‘Northern Rain’ almost seems to be an ode to home, to his roots in Warrington, not far from me geographically, speaking of fond memories of years gone by, while ‘I’m Better Now’speaks of somewhat darker times, with lines such as “…Two seconds of hate…a lifetime of grieving…no debate, just believing” an immensely powerful line, speaking of some of the darker current world events perhaps. The contrast between the two singles alone shows how complex this release is beyond the mere superficial ethereal tones and only echoes further my appreciation for Tim’s creativity.
The delicacy with which he approaches the often dark material is nothing short of sublime. Vocals that almost sigh along to the material, showing an impressive range and ability merge perfectly with the subtle music that is far more complex beneath the surface, with the likes of Richard Barbieri and Tom Atherton among a very impressive supporting cast, providing the perfect support and foil for Tim’s own talents. For all the delicateness, the offbeats and unexpected rhythms that pervade this release add even more support to the notion that Tim remains a quite undervalued member of the musical community.
‘Late Night Laments’ is a creation filled with sumptuous soundscapes on the surface, while the sinister and dark undertones to the lyrics tackle quite complex and emotive subjects in a sensitive manner, evoking emotions and stimulating some topics that maybe do require a much broader conversation than seems to be happening generally. It’s another sublime body of work that further underpins just how vital Tim remains to the music world and how he deserves much wider success than even he has managed to this date. A release that deserves to propel him to even greater heights.
‘Late Night Laments’ is released on 28 August. You can get your copy HERE.
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