CD Review  

Porcupine Tree
 "The Sky Moves Sidesways"

Rating 99%

reviewed by William Goate

After listening to this band play a fantastic live session on Radio One, I needed this album and even managed to purchase a rare blue vinyl 12". Let's all be honest, the really classic albums get the vinyl treatment. So why, do you ask, did 'Ever' not recieve the same shit? Porcupine Tree's four musicians gel together exceptionally. Not only do they write good songs their musicianship is second to none. I've heard bassist Colin Edwin live and can assure you that you won't find a finer bassist in prog. Vocalist/Guitarist Steven Wilson has a trippy voice and his guitaring is classy because he doesn't show-off like many of the of the ego-minded players who are ridiculed in the press, he experiments and uses his guitar like nobody's business. Keyboardist Richard Barbieri (ex-Japan) reminds me of a young Richard Wright, a brilliant use of old classics and trippy synth. Drummer Chris Maitland amazed me on the Radio One session and enjoys the simple Floydian style then in contast gives Neal Peart a run for his money. For me they play 'common sense' prog that crosses me boundaries of appeal. Most of their fans probably don't even realise what prog is, such is their credibility and the prog-heads can't get enough. They are prog's golden boys and much of their long listed backlogue is very much sought after.

So, is there much awaited album worth buying? Without a doubt! To use the old cliché 'it is the best thing the band have done' is a suitable phrase. This record is far more 70's prog than many of the band's previous stuff. Steven Wilson claims that his mission is to "drag prog kicking and creaming into the 90's", it seems by cramming as many of those 70's influences in as possible.

Moonloop was a fine prelude to this subtle shift in the direction and wetted our appetite, why didn't they put the single on this album? The first track The Sky Moves Sideways lasts just under 19 minutes and is impossible to review such are me changes from the mellow bits to the louder riffs. The dope heads will embrace this album and enjoy lying on the voyage of prog and sailing with the stars. Side two starts with the brilliant Moon Touches your Shoulder which resembles my favourite PT track Radioactive Toy in the fact that you can drift into the music and only flirts with pop sensibility to the extent that it is short enough to enjoy radio play, just. This is an excellent song and fans will love the use of real old keyboards. The Sky Moves Sideways - Phase 2 closes the second side, more space trips, shuttling your senses from one galaxy to another. Brilliant.

The CD includes the 17 minute classic Moonloop which many of you will have on if you bought the single. Everyone I've played this to thinks it is the best album in years and if you are going to buy any prog album then this is by far the best one to get. If you haven't got it then you won't know.

Porcupine Tree w*nk in the face of imposter prog merchants and come in the mouths of the music-mongers. The real point of interest will be how much acceptance this release gains. Porcupine Tree are one of the few bands that can bridge the gap holding other bands in small stagnant pools.