Porcupine Tree

Don,

There is a lot of good PT stuff to buy.

I started with Fear of a Blank Planet and it still remains my favourite. It is at the heavier end of their repertoire.

Deadwing and In Absentia are superb albums and a little less heavy but still rock. The Sky Moves Sideways is a gem with a Pink Floyd feel to it then also worth checking our are Stupid Dream and Signify.

The DVD of them live is a cracker as well. At the end of the day most of their output is worth buying.

Also check out the two Blackfield albums and the No-Man album Together We're Stranger.

Happy spending and listening.

Adrian

Many thanks, Adrian - appreciated.

Regards

Don

'In Absentia'(2001) would be my recommendation, or 'Signify'(1997).

A lot of old fans have found 'Fear of a Blank Planet' too heavy, but it has certainly opened them up to a new audience.

Surprised at the recommendation for 'Deadwing', and the live 'DVD' I found those a bit patchy and soulless, but they do cover the change from progressive to a metal sound.

In the early 90's they were a psychedelic Pink Floyd influenced band, more songs based in the late 90's, through to a metal band on the last couple of albums. It is quite a broad spread, but well worth trying.

I started with Deadwing and it's still my favourite. Probably a bit more "accessible" than the rest?

Early PT - the solo years

On the Sunday of Life - very early musings from Mr Wilson, with him playing all the instruments - remixed versions now include real drums however. Patchy but showed signs of what was to come. Think Barratt period Floyd.

Up the Downstair - More of the same

Yellow Hedgerow Dreamscape - This is Extremely rare and completes the set.


PT The band

The Sky Moves Sideways - again largely Steven Wilson solo but some telling contributions from the others who were to form the touring band. This is really the album that can be compared to Waters/Gilmour Floyd it is PT's proggyest album.

Signify - The first proper PT album with the four members all making major contributions. This album including 'Waiting' which is one of the finest songs ever written!

Coma Divine - Live album from the Signify tour. Simply one of the best live albums recorded by anyone, ever.

Stupid Dream - More song based than before

Heavy PT

In Absentia - the first signs of the new, heavy PT, bigger sound but with some harmonies to die for.

Deadwing - Not as consistent but has the epic 'Arriving Somewhere' as it's centrepiece

Fear of a Blank Planet - more heaviness but more focused than Deadwing.

Miscellaneous

Metanoia - Improvisations from the signify sessions. Probably my least often played PT album

Recordings - floor sweepings and leftovers from various sessions. This is not a coherent album in the way most of the others are but it contains some of PTs finest songs and is among my favourite albums.

Voyage 34 - a fine mood piece, originally released as a 34 minute single - expanded to about an hour and very good it is too.

Warsawa - a live recording for a radio show in Poland. Slightly dry sound but very good.

We Lost The Skyline - A recent live recording from a record shop in the states. Some very good versions of OT songs rarely heard live.

Missing

Finally an admission... I don't own all of PT's records (yet) Lightbulb Sun is on order on heavy Vinyl so that's coming soon.


Steven Wilson doesn't seem to have it in him to produce a poor album. His production values are high and the quality of the packaging is as good as any I have in my collection. If you're a vinyl junkie the LPs are always beautifully presented.

So a recommendation? Hard to say really, not knowing your other preferences. If you like the heavier side then go for the later stuff, otherwise I'd say Coma Divine, What I can predict though is that if you like what you hear you will soon own quite a number of the above.

quote:

Originally posted by seagull:
I don't own all of PT's records (yet) Lightbulb Sun is on order on heavy Vinyl so that's coming soon.

seagull,

Where from please?

GML,

There are two versions of Lightbulb Sun that can be purchased from tonefloat. It's not cheap, but works of art are worth paying for.

Denis

Thank you both but I see the vinyl is that of the 2008 remastered and remixed version. I recently heard the 2008 CD and much preferred the original 2000 issue.

Thanks all, particularly Seagull who helped considerably.

My package from Amazon arrived with In Absentia, Signify & Fear of a Blank Planet plus some other artists.

Porcupine Tree are very good and their music is well recorded. Wish I had discovered them sooner.

Regards

Don

Hi Don,

You have made excellent choices to start your PT voyage. Just in case HMV run out of Deadwing - Japan 2CD edition, I would order this quickly. This completes the last 3 releases of PT's heavier cycle. The 2nd CD warrents particular mention because it includes 'Buying New Soul', one of PT's most hauntingly beautiful songs. I would recommend 'Stupid Dream' and 'Lightbulb Sun' next as these demonstrate Steven Wilson's ability to write lighter but melancholic songs. The melodies, harmonies, orchestration and musicianship within this band really shines on these two albums. If you like SD & LBS then it's only a short step to one of Steven's side projects namely 'Blackfield'. There are only 2 BF album's, BLACKFIED & BLACKFIELD II and are really melancholic pop songs that rock. I would then try the PT 'live' Albums 'Coma Devine' & 'Warszawa' followed by the PT & Blackfield DVD's. I'm afraid this might make you feel in fear of a Blank Wallet, but your muscial rewards are a price worth paying ☺.

Enjoy

Denis

Many thanks Denis

Munch you have mail.

Regards

Don

Porcupine Tree, and also King Crimson, have been added to the 'not allowed bands' lists at some of the major bootleg trading websites.

The material swapped there is not commercially viable, and this (to me anyway) seems to show disrespect to their most dedicated fans.

In their favour, Steve Wilson and Robert Fripp take great care with the quality of their recordings, and rather than the reaction being against the sharing of rare recordings on the grounds of performance or copyright, it might reflect their wish to have only the very best recordings represent their output.

Some of the KC collectors club releases have pretty ropey sound though, but those did represent shows that were historically important to the band.

I don't see these bands getting much airplay that will broaden interest in their music, and the places they have targeted are the kind of place where new fans might get a first taste.

Their choice, but sad they have taken this action. Personally the only reaction this kind of heavy handed legal action causes is for me, is to question whether I am interested in buying further products by artists who seem to show a lack on trust in their audience.

Jamie

I usually point anyone new to Porcupine Tree to In Absentia. Having said that, Lightbulb Sun was recently re-relesed and has to be another strong recommendation along with the aforementioned Coma Divine live album.

Otherwise, for a good sampling of the early stuff, get yourself Stars Die, a nicely packaged 2 disc "best of".