METANOIA

This is the second full album I have heard from Porcupine Tree. The first was Voyage 34. Neither is considered a part of PT's main discography. I thought Voyage 34 sounded too much like a cross between Pink Floyd and techno. I enjoyed this album much more. Both are instrumental(except for talking). I've heard a few songs from these guys but didn't care for any of them at all. I figured I would like their instrumental albums more. Metanoia I happen to like quite a bit. After those two albums I'm going to try some of their more vocal oriented albums and see if I like any.

The songs here are made up of improvisations recorded during the sessions for Signify (which I haven't heard yet). I forgot that former Japan keyboardist Richard Barbieri was a member of Porcupine Tree. I can't believe how little most PT fans think of this album. I think it's great. Because of how much I enjoy this one, I'm skeptical of how much I will like the band's more popular albums.

"Mesmer I" has good drumming. Halfway through changes to a nice groove with cool drumming on the snare. "Mesmer II" has more good drumming. Good spacey guitar work as well. "Mesmer III / Coma Divine" starts with the band joking around in the studio. Then the sound of a radio dial being turned to different stations. Later overdubbed orchestra sounds. After some drums, bass and atmospheric synths come in. More radio samples and orchestra sounds. I like the sound of the bass in this song. Later chorused guitar and cool synth playing. Over halfway through the music calms down and mellows out. At one point there is just synth sounds. Guitar, drums and then bass comes back. Great song.

"Door To The River" has a bass sound I keep hearing more and more of. Don't know the technical term for that sound. I can only describe it as a bass guitar trying to sound like an acoustic guitar. "Metanoia I / Intermediate Jesus" starts with spacey sounds and cymbals. Gets spacier. Then bass begins to play three notes over and over. Later the drumming and guitar playing gets more intense and the bass playing has more variation while still playing the three notes. Bass dies out and then the music gets more ambient and atmospheric.

"Insignificance" picks up where the last song left off. Cool guitar sounds here. Good drumming. Mellows out at the end. "Metanoia II" continues where the previous song left off. Mostly built around a repeated bass line. A guitar solo in the middle. Ends with the tape being sped up. "Milan" is just the band members goofing off in some crowded place.

I wish PT had more albums like this. As far as improv goes, these guys got nothing on Crimson or Henry Cow. But this is more accesible improv that is generally spacey and has grooves. Steven Wilson is a great musician and producer, but I never really cared for the songs I've heard him write. He should stick to things like this. I'm gonna check out some of their other albums. I might like them, I might not. Anyway, I will give this 4 stars.