SIGNIFY

Signify is Porcupine Tree's somewhat disregarded stepchild in that it's a transititional album between their earlier ambient work and their more popular later alternative work. But Signify is a cohessive whole that spans space rock, Kraut rock, Floydian influences and, of course, ambient moods of a darker world (or a darker mind) as suggested by the album's disturbing cover art. And this viseral darkness could only come from the imagine of Steven Wilson.

While Wilson is still the band's primary instrumentalist, even playing some fab mellotron, bassist Colin Edwin and drummer Chris Maitland lock in the twisting groves of this sometimes twisted sounding music to great effect, while deftly dailing back the drama on the album's quieter ambient bassed tracks. It's a delicate balance that both perform well.

The hard question to answer is if prog a fan is missing something by not having Signify in their collection. I would have to say yes, as it's easy to miss much of what this music offers on just a few listens. It's one of those deeper albums that sneaks up on you and that, IMO, is why it's important to experience the music, over and over again, that's on this great album. 4 stars.