As a number of albums from the No-Man back catalogue have not been released on vinyl, we have to skip to 2001’s "Returning Jesus". I am listening to the 2017 remastered version, which sounds fantastic.
Things begin with the magical "Only Rain", which recycles the strings from an earlier track, "Watching Over Me". As the song moves through its phases, you cannot help but marvel at the invention and beauty on offer. There is some added vinyl noise for the intro of "No Defence", which revolves around Steven’s guitar arpeggios and some deliberately listless drumming by Steve Jansen.
By far the best track here is "Close Your Eyes", which is capable of sending a shudder down your spine. At the start, Tim sings over basic organ chords and percussion before synth pads and guitar licks lift the chorus to a new level. In a way, this is typical progressive rock, as the song builds and builds until it reaches a searing guitar solo that gives way to an extended instrumental, but it sounds more glorious than that description suggests.
"Carolina Skeletons" is a sad, reflective piece that was released on an EP a full three years before the album. The other tracks from the EP appear on the flip side of the second record and add value to this package.
"Outside The Machine" centres on jazz-influenced piano chords and the superlative drumming of Steve Jansen once again. The title track, "Returning Jesus", sees Steven Wilson work his genius with tuned percussion and a guitar that sounds uncannily like Mike Oldfield. Songs like "Lighthouse" and "Slow It All Down" give me the feeling that Steven is driving this part of the album and, as he weaves Hammond organ and Mellotron sounds into the mix, it feels very much like an ode to prog rock. We finish with another single, "All That You Are", which once again revolves around Steven’s guitar arpeggios and Tim’s intimate vocal. Good stuff. 3.5/5
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