Wild Opera

Personnel: Tim Bowness (vocals, tapes); Steven Wilson (tapes).
Recording information: No-Man's Land (08/17/1994).
Wild Opera is an arty excursion into experiment turned album, but it only touches of the brilliance they are capable of shine through. However, better to explore than remake the same album. Wild Opera begins with "Radiant City" with a guitar lifted straight out of an average '60s spy flick and sets the tone for what is a dark and fearsome effort. "Sinister Jazz" is a prime example, with the lyrics "...You're never going home." Elsewhere, "Time Travel in Texas" is particularly clever as Bowness narrates from a hostage perspective. "Pretty Genius," "Taste My Dream," and the album's leading light, "My Revenge on Seattle," are familiar No-Man terrain, while "Infant Phenomenon" is a cousin to Sylvian/Fripp's "Darshan." One of the worst tracks was chosen to head the five-track EP; "Housewives Hooked on Heroin" has fine lyrics but the music is dreary and overlong. About average, tread with caution, but give it a fair chance after Flowermouth and Loveblows. ~ Kelvin Hayes