GRACE FOR DROWNING

Steven Wilson (SW) is a very well known man among the members of prog community. If you are not familiar with his works, here is some historical background. SW is best known as the founder of Porcupine Tree, has participated in/created numerous proGjects (pun intended), including No-Man, Blackfield, Storm Corrosion, Bass Communion and worked with a lot of artists (not only in prog sphere). Many may know him for his impeccable surround sound mixes and remixes, with which he earned a nomination for Grammy. In addition, he recorded six solo studio albums.

Grace for Drowning is a second SW studio release, it is also a double album. Lasting for approximately 83 minutes, it contains pretty much everything a fine prog record should have but gives it more spice, in places even renovates those standards. As with almost all SW proGjects, the music, playing and production here are marvelous, I don't think they could have been done better for this album. Different moods are represented in these tracks, they are ranging from good to really stellar. Ironically, if I had to choose a composition from this album to listen to because of a lack of free time (that is a common circumstance in modern world) or any other reason, it would have to be Raider II, which is the longest on the record. I did not get it at first, but now I think it may be one of the best prog epics period (especially closer to the end, where you could feel full force and energy produced by that playing)

Grace for Drowning may not be the best SW solo record, but in my eyes it still deserves a 5 star rating just for that effort alone. Highly recommended. I wish more of SW solo outputs contained music of this caliber (looking at you, The Future Bites...) .