DEADWING

Some people say that they miss Porcupine Tree's "melodic side" in DEADWING compared to "Signify", "Stupid Dream" or " Lightbulb Sun". Or they miss their "Floydian style" that they used in "The Sky Moves Sideways". Some even doubt that you can still label PT a prog-rock band!!!

Why does every band have to fit in a certain "box"? And what does PROGRESSIVE really mean?? Is it only because we think progressive rock should sound like Pink Floyd or King Crimson or does it mean that they really are progressive themselves? Meaning they like to move forwards instead of doing the same album over and over again. Or in other words: exploring their musical limits and changing styles? My answer to this question would definitely be the latter part!

No matter how you want to label this band, everything Steven Wilson lays his hands on seems to have some magic in them. Take the collaboration with Opeth or with Israeli singer/songwriter Aviv Geffen (BLACKFIELD) for example. Great stuff! Who would have thought that as busy as he is Steven Wilson found the time to make this studio album with his own band Porcupine Tree?

The result: I have to admit it, as with many albums this one takes time to get better. Good thing is that it is only getting better each time you will listen to it. I must have listened to it more than a couple of dozen times by now and I even started to like the songs DEADWING and SHALLOW, while I thought they were a bit too heavy for me at first.

Highlight of the album definitely is the +12 minute masterpiece ARRIVING SOMEWHERE BUT NOT HERE. Half ways the song it seems to take you in a completely different direction to eventually guide you back to the path you were on. This is why I love PT so much! Sometimes there seem to be 2 completely different songs in only 1 track. Only the best get away with this!

LAZARUS is a very warm ballad that will give you time to take a breath after having been blown away by DEADWING and SHALLOW. The fourth track Halo really liked at first, but now seems somewhat disappointing. The fifth track ARRIVING SOMEWHERE I already discussed. Only one word comes to mind: MASTERPIECE!

MELLOTRON SCRATCH also took time to "grow". The last few minutes are very catchy and at first it seemed to be an entirely different song to me. Where have you heard that before?? Now after dozens of "listens" I must say it's another highlight of DEADWING together with the very delicate tracks THE START OF SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL (which is just simply beautiful, especially the last instrumental part!) and GLASS ARM SHATTERING. OOPS! Almost forgot the powerful OPEN CAR! What can I say? This Album ROCKS whether you want to call it PROGRESSIVE or NOT!

GET OUT THERE AND GET THIS ALBUM!

P.S. don't throw DEADWING in the bin after only one listen. This album takes time to grow and will become more beautiful each time you listen to it!

Porcupine Tree - Deadwing : 5 stars all the way!