Tag: Porcupine Tree (Page 2 of 3)

This version does not include the Staircase Infinities outtakes, so the tracks are more spaced out on the vinyl. Apart from a couple of tracks (where Colin Edwin provides bass, and Richard Barbieri adds some electronics) SW plays all of the instruments. This also has the organic drum tracks that were added by Gavin Harrison.

There was lots of online stupidity and slating (mostly by people who are only recent converts to SW’s music) surrounding SW’s new release, The Future Bites, well what would those people think of this release I wonder? Up until this point, Porcupine Tree were basically an experiment/off shoot to the No-Man project with Tim Bowness, but with the release of this album, SW wanted to make it a full band to tour.

After the small intro piece, the first track is a million miles away from what he is creating today. Synesthesia has very psychedelic undertones to the music and is just beautiful. The next full song is Always Never, and again is just a fantastic tune expanding into the full Prog experience – complete with Gilmour-esque solo. Flip over onto Side B and we have the title track, Up The Downstair, which takes up the whole side. A very trippy electronic intro before a killer bass groove takes the listener to electronic dance territory before the guitar kicks in with that repetitive riff. Superb track!!!

Over on to Side 3 we go, we have Not Beautiful Anymore with its LSD references and very trippy, groovy, and almost dance track. Some nice phased guitar adds to the atmos. Relatively short track, Small Fish, is next which feels very Syd Barret era Floyd. The album’s longest track, Burning Sky, follows and starts with another psychedelic intro and repetitive riff, and builds into a Prog fan’s wet dream.

I love instrumentals and SW is a master at them. I have to say that two words keep popping into my head when listening to this and they are Pink and Floyd. On to album closer, Fadeaway, which is just a beautiful song and a great finish to the album. If all the moaners had come into SW’s music at this point they may well understand the man and his music a lot more. This album is just pure joy, and is one of my favourite PT albums. Everyone should own one.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

This is the sixth studio from these British Prog icons. This album falls into the mid-period of the band, as the songs are a lot more concise and almost pop in places – even though the second half of this album is quite experimental. This is also the last album to feature drummer Chris Maitland, who was sacked before the recording of the next album when they brought in Gavin Harrison. What we have here is the Tonefloat version with the 3 extra tracks on Side 4.

Things start nicely with the title track – a very nice acoustic beginning before building into an almost psychedelic Pink Floyd style tune . How Is Your Life Today is up next, with a piano intro and a distant vocal – a very quirky tune again reminiscent of early Floyd until the harmonies start. The single Four Chords That Made a Million is next, which could have been mistaken for a Brit Pop tune has it does have that feel about it. Shesmovedon is next, which I do believe was also a single. It starts with a stripped down beginning until the band joins in to elevate it. It shows how radio in general just sticks to formats, and bands like PT don’t stand a chance of breaking through – even though there are elements to these tunes that the masses would love – if only they could hear them! The wonderfully titled Last Chance To Evacuate Planet Earth Before Its Recycled is next, and what a great song it is with a great sci-fi feel. Such beautiful melodies and instrumental grooves and absolute classic. The Rest Will Flow is the last of the tunes section of the album, again it starts with that stripped down style with a cool chorus. The amazing Hatesong is next, which is one of the best songs in the bands catalogue. A lot more experimentation is included with loops, guitar sounds, and a heavy groove – with distortion playing its part – plus a killer middle section. Where We Would Be follows, another acoustic driven tune. Then it’s on to the album’s monster track, Russia On Ice, weighing in at 13 minutes – it has become a classic of the genre. An absolute gem which builds and builds again – comparisons to Floyd are easy to identify. The album closes with Feel So Low with its almost lullaby start – a very melancholic song.

Now it’s onto the 3 bonus tracks which take up Side 4, the first of which is Disappear – another great song. Buying New Soul follows, and was a staple of the PT live set right up until they stopped. It’s another long song at over 10 minutes (I am guessing this is why it never made the album proper as it’s a great song). Which all brings us to the final track, Cure For Optimism. A very experimental piece with lots of programming and effects from Barbieri – before a more familiar acoustic vibe takes over.

A progressive album in every sense as it takes the listener to places they would not expect. Very Floyd in places, although not the Floyd you would expect, as that would come later with the Incident. This album does not disappoint.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.