Tag: Porcupine Tree (Page 1 of 3)

Imagine my delight when one of my favourite bands, that for all intents and purposes had split up and may never have recorded again, came back from the dead with the announcement of a new record. Yep, I was pretty stoked to say the least. Then, rumours started to appear about how they were now down to a three piece as Colin Edwin, whose glorious bass grooves would not be taking part. Seemingly, there was animosity in the camp.

This album does have its high points, but it’s by no means the band’s best effort. Harridan opens up the album and this is a classic PT style tune well, since the arrival of Gavin Harrison anyway. A nice, heavy, almost industrial groove and a song that meanders its way through its take. A very strong start. Of The New Day follows and this song feels like an SW solo tune. A very delicate song full of SW’s trademark melancholic vibes, until the burst of energy mid way. Rats Return is one of my favourite tracks on the album. A nice, heavy, metallic groove with lots of Richard Barbieri’s soundscapes, I think this is the most PT track on the album.

Dignity feels like a throwback to Sygnify with an acoustic vibe driving the song along. The third of the outstanding tracks on the album is next with Herd Culling. This one takes it for favourite overall tune. I love the dark weird intro before the song explodes into life, something that SW says he no longer gets inspiration and drive from anymore. Well, I guess if you didn’t put huge crunching metal grooves into PT music at this point, only the sheep that seem to buy everything that SW touches would be down with it.

Walk The Plank has Richard Barbieri written all over it. Lots of keyboard and electronic weirdness that are a treat. His solo albums are so cool. This bring us to the last track, well on this version at least. There are bonus tracks on the deluxe version, which dilute the album. Chimeras Wreck has Side 4 all to itself, a slow builder with lots of killer touches that you have to listen carefully to. The layered harmonies sound huge and the production is top drawer.

It took me a while to like this record and I still think it sounds somewhat mechanical and lacks groove. Maybe that’s because a guitar player is playing bass? It’s just how it feels to me. They are still a million times ahead of the pack.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

This was my point of entry into the world of Porcupine Tree and Steven Wilson. I was aware of his existence before this point as I heard a quirky little single called Jupiter Island on Mark Radcliff’s radio show, but Sygnify was the point where I thought “wow, there’s something really cool happening here”. Up until this point Porcupine Tree had just been a side project of his day job with No-Man (a little art pop combo with Tim Bowness). In fact, everything about Porcupine Tree was almost a joke, as Steven had invented a fake history for the band as well as fake bios for the fake members. So what changed I hear you ask? Wel,l I guess Steven began to see that there was more life and freedom in this project than in No-Man.

The psychedelic weirdness is still present on this album, but it’s mixed with a lot more Prog influences and bursts of heaviness. There are some really beautiful pieces on this record such as Sleep Of No Dreaming , which is one of my favourite PT tracks ever – such a moving piece. Then there are really groovy moments like Waiting (Phase 1 and 2) which starts in an almost Floyd-esque moment of Prog joy, then the bass and bongos take over which guides the song to almost trance territory with its hypnotic groove. A superbly written song that I never tire of hearing.

What a great opening side, and then we flip to Side 2 with Sever – another one of my fav PT tunes. It’s just so epic, and I hope Steven will dig this out and play it with his solo band one day. Idiot Prayer has to be the most danceable Prog track ever, with that wicked bass line and hippy weirdness – the Ozrics do spring to mind when listening to this. Every Home Is Wired is the one song that has the hangover of psychedelia from the first album, but it’s still a cool track. Intermediate Jesus sees the band delve deep into experimental Prog and jam band territory with this very trippy track. Light Mass Prayers is a very ambient piece, and Tangerine Dream could be a reference point as I just find this a very relaxing track. Dark Matter closes out the album, and is the one track from the album that still gets an airing from Steven when playing live – it’s a fantastic track.

Seeing as the album only takes up three sides, Side 4 has three bonus tracks which were recorded at the same time, Sound Of No One Listening (an instrumental), Colourflow In Mind which seems to be a track awaiting lyrics, and an alternate version of Sygnify. So that’s the first great Porcupine Tree album, and I would recommend this to anyone with a wide varied taste.

10/10 from The Grooveman.