No Man Is An Island — The Girl From Missouri EP (1989, PLAS S 012) — 12″

Released in 1989 on Plastic Head Records as catalogue number PLAS S 012, The Girl From Missouri EP stands as one of the most intriguing and historically significant artefacts from the early creative partnership of Tim Bowness and Steven Wilson. Issued under the name No Man Is An Island, this 12‑inch UK maxi‑single predates the adoption of the more familiar No‑Man moniker and captures a moment of transition in the duo’s development, before their later shift toward the art‑pop, ambient and textural soundscapes that would define their 1990s output. For collectors of Wilson’s extensive discography, this EP represents a rare and foundational chapter — a glimpse into the formative period before the project cohered into its more widely recognised identity.

The release is notable not only for its early place in the No‑Man timeline, but also for the unusual circumstances surrounding its scarcity. According to long‑standing accounts within the collector community, the band grew to dislike the title track and, dissatisfied with the direction of the material, took the unusual step of destroying a substantial portion of the unsold warehouse stock. As a result, the surviving copies from the original pressing run — estimated at roughly 500 units — are significantly fewer than the initial production numbers would suggest. This act of self‑curation has contributed to the EP’s status as a genuine rarity, with demand driven by Steven Wilson and Porcupine Tree completionists who seek to assemble a comprehensive record of Wilson’s early work across all aliases and collaborative projects.

The sleeve design is characteristic of late‑1980s independent production: a striking photographic composition overlaid with bold, fragmented typography, creating a visual identity that sits comfortably within the experimental art‑pop aesthetic of the period. This particular copy presents exceptionally well. The white borders remain clean, the typography retains its crispness, and the overall presentation is strong, with only minor shelf wear visible — placing the sleeve confidently in VG+ to NM‑ territory. The colours remain stable, the edges are tidy, and the artwork has avoided the heavy rubbing or discolouration often seen on surviving examples.

The vinyl itself is a highlight. The wax shows beautiful preservation, with a visual grade around VG+, and has been play‑tested to Excellent, demonstrating clear, stable playback with no intrusive surface noise. Labels are clean and bright, free from writing, tears or spindle wear. The combination of a strong sleeve and an excellent‑playing disc makes this copy particularly desirable for collectors who value both condition and provenance.

As an artefact, The Girl From Missouri EP occupies a unique position within the broader Wilson/Bowness narrative. It is a release shaped by creative restlessness, later disavowed by its creators, and consequently rendered scarce in a way that few modern records are. For collectors, it offers not only musical interest but also historical weight — a tangible link to the earliest phase of a partnership that would go on to produce some of the most distinctive and exploratory work in British art‑pop and progressive music. Clean copies seldom appear, and examples with both strong sleeve presentation and excellent playback are particularly prized.

This is a boutique‑grade copy of a title with genuine collector gravity, representing an essential early chapter in the evolution of No‑Man and the wider creative trajectory of Steven Wilson.

Condition Report

• Vinyl: Excellent (EX) — Play‑tested; visually VG+; clean, stable playback with no intrusive noise.
• Sleeve: Very Good Plus to Near Mint‑ (VG+ / NM‑) — Clean white borders; crisp typography; minor shelf wear only.
• Labels: Clean — No writing, marks or spindle wear.
• Pressing: UK
• Catalogue No: PLAS S 012
• Format: 12″ Vinyl, 45 RPM, Maxi‑Single