This has been available as a download for quite some time on the band’s Bandcamp page. Now, with the acquiring of all their own catalogue, they are releasing everything through their own Transmission label. For a band that has been done for nearly 11 years, they put out quite a lot of product. Mainly reissues and remixes, but occasionally we get nuggets like this. A limited release on shiny blue vinyl to go with the title, this is without doubt a superb album.
The album was recorded on the In Absentia tour when the band were supporting Opeth. The In Absentia album was the beginning of the heavy riffs and grooves entering the band’s music, and would last for two more albums, until The Incident, where the vibe changed and would be the last studio album they recorded. If you don’t own any Porcupine Tree, then hurry and go and buy this before they are all gone.
The choice of songs from the old catalogue, as well as the In Absentia new material, fit together perfectly. I love the way they put in songs that were not on the album proper, as Futile was only originally on a promo CD. Gravity Eyelids shows the new direction really well, encompassing the fat riff heavy grooves with the beautifully angelic pieces. The version here of Russia On Ice is just sublime and one of my all time favourite PT tracks.
Porcupine Tree are one of the world’s best kept secrets and urge everyone to to add some to your collections.
10/10 from The Grooveman.
