NIL RECURRING

This could very well be my favorite EP of all time, next to "Jar of Flies" by Alice in Chains and "Memories in My Head" at the Riverside. While at first glance the listener can make the mistake of thinking that these four songs are "leftovers" of the masterpiece Fear of a Blank Planet (released a few months before) - and indeed there are moments here that refer to this album as much lyrical and musically - this is a disc worth in itself, and is among some of my favorite records of Porcupine Tree.

The title track is one of the best instrumental band, and features a cameo from master Robert Fripp (which makes a significant contribution here than in Way Out of Here). The music blends the psychedelic vibe of the first album with the metal, aggressive sound of the most recent works, opening this disc with praise. The dynamic here is out of this world: the music grows aggressively to break a middle section full of soundscapes that evolves into new melodies, before returning for their initial theme and heavier than ever quit.

Normal is both lyrical and musically a progression of Sentimental FOABP - see the same refrain. But it is a song in its own right: I especially love the acoustic air this song with Steven Wilson doing a terrific job with the acoustic guitar here and atmospheric keyboards, courtesy of Barbieri (a keyboard that I have learned to admire) . There is only a brief moment in which she reveals more metal-oriented, but he is soon broken by the voice of Wilson: "Wish I was old and a little sentimental, you gotta see the waves, not the wine bottle at the way is now ". The end is almost a different, but still this is a great song that alternates between softer moments and other more aggressive, reflecting an impeccable dynamics.

Cheating the Polygraph music on this disc is the fastest growing on me, and could very well be my favorite here. It is here where I see the talent of these guys, especially the Gavin Harrison, a guy whom I have learned to admire more and more thanks to a dynamic, rich, subtle and heavily soaked jazz style. The live version of this song on Anesthetize reflects what I'm talking about (especially in the latter end of it). Also the poignant Colin Edwin's bass and atmospheric keys of Richard Barbieri (which provides a very psychedelic solo here) are worth mentioning in this song that could very well be one of the best of the group.

What Happens Now is the most atmospheric and progressive music here . Opening with sound effects and a delicious and simple percussion, she has some partially modified Steven sparse vocals. In short , this is a more instrumental music : not endless solos or musical masturbation - after all, this is not the style of Porcupine Tree , who has always been a joint band, where the four members operate in favor of a single musicality . I really love the moment when one of the themes of the epic Anesthetize runs , members conducting the music ( note the mad compass Gavin uses here , and that still comes in perfect sync with the rest of the band ) before it explodes in a grand climax with one of the most amazing solos Steven .

And here we are. Despite its slightly less than 30 minutes Nil Recurring is one of the most impressive records of Porcupine Tree , and owes nothing to the best albums of them . Every song here is an absolute highlight , and even electing Cheating the Polygraph my personal favorite are all the same level . 5 stars.

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