Tim Bowness - Stupid Things That Mean The World (2015)

A year on from the acclaimed Abandoned Dancehall Dreams, Bowness returns with this powerful and eclectic new record Stupid Things That Mean The World. Produced by Bowness and mixed by The Pineapple Thief's Bruce Soord (who also adds some choice guitar parts), 'Stupid Things That Mean The World' features a core of Bowness along with members of the No-Man live band (Stephen Bennett, Michael Bearpark, Andrew Booker) and Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree), augmented by contributions from Peter Hammill, Phil Manzanera, Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson), Anna Phoebe, David Rhodes (Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, Scott Walker), and Rhys Marsh. As on Abandoned Dancehall Dreams, Classical composer Andrew Keeling, best known for his work with The Hilliard Ensemble, Evelyn Glennie and Robert Fripp, provides striking string arrangements. The album was mastered by The Pineapple Thief's Steve Kitch. Developing the sound of Abandoned Dancehall Dreams further, on Stupid Things That Mean The World, Bowness distinctively operates on the edges of Art Rock and Singer-Songwriter styles, delivering a music which is both epic and intimate, familiar and surprising. The beautiful artwork for the album was once again done by I Monster's Jarrod Gosling.