My collaboration with Richard Barbieri on Flame grew out of the creative connection we found while he was performing as part of the No-Man live band. The project allowed us to rework and reimagine several musical ideas; for instance, the title track is a version of Richard’s instrumental “Long Tales, Tall Shadows” (from his 1991 album Stories Across Borders) for which I wrote new lyrics and a vocal melody. Similarly, “Song of Love and Everything” draws heavily from “Lumen,” a piece originally written by Richard and Steve Jansen.

The recording sessions for Flame ran parallel to the making of No-Man’s Flowermouth, and both albums were released just two months apart in 1994. To mark the release, Wire Magazine even distributed a special four-track sampler featuring two songs from each record. The album is anchored by an incredible group of contributors—including the unmistakable bass of Mick Karn, the percussion of Steve Jansen, and performances by Chris Maitland, Gavin Harrison, and Michael Bearpark—creating a rich, collaborative atmosphere that defines this singular chapter in my discography.