STORM CORROSION

The anticipation for this album started to build the minute we heard that Steven Wilson and Mikael Akerfeldt were going to make an record together. Over time we would get little comments from Steven about how this recording would be completely different from anything either of them had been a part of in the past music-wise. When they got together to record they talked about Scott Walker albums like "Tilt" and "The Drift" along with Electronic bands like KRAFTWERK and TANGERINE DREAM. They would watch a movie together before they went into the studio from Steven's collection and they were mostly odd and experimental European movies and horror movies. And this album really is like a movie for the mind. They decided right away that they wanted an earthy sound so lots of acoustic guitar, electric piano and mellotron, lots of mellotron. One of Akerfeldt's all-time favourite albums is COMUS' "First Utterance" and that Acid Folk vibe is strong here. Drums took a back seat even though they had one of the best drummers in the world in Gavin Harrison at their disposal. Mostly cymbals can be heard but certainly it's about keeping a beat and little more. Dave Stewart was brought in to arrange the strings on "Lock Howl" while Steven aranged them on "Drag Ropes". The LONDON SESSION ORCHESTRA performed them, even the often out of tune parts that Wilson insisted upon. Steven says doing this album was almost like "retreating back to an organic pagan minimalism."

There are only six tracks and things get started with "Drag Ropes" a haunting and dark piece with Akerfeldt on vocals. He sings in a reserved manner. A brief ray of light as it were 2 1/2 minutes in with some harmonies. Piano a minute later. A GENTLE GIANT-like vocal arrangement 5 minutes in then the mellotron storms in. The cymbals and fast paced vocals sound great but the "Damnation"-like guitar with strings that follow sound even better. Vocals are back before 8 1/2 minutes. "Storm Corrosion" was the one song I loved right from the first listen. Mellotron as acoustic guitar comes in. Reserved vocals (Wilson) join in. So beautiful. Some tasteful electric guitar before 3 minutes. The strings and vocal melodies are gorgeous. Drums and a fuller sound 5 1/2 minutes in. A haunting calm after 6 minutes. Then we get this disturbing and eerie intensity that builds until just after 8 minutes before it turns beautiful again.

"Hag" is bleak with sparse sounds and a dark mood as Wilson sings almost with spoken words. Mellotron and a beat as the guitar also joins in then piano. it kicks in hard before 4 1/2 minutes and check out Harrison ! It settles back a minute later with vocals. "Happy" opens with gentle guitar and reserved vocals (Wilson). It turns haunting when the vocals stop. Vocal melodies before 2 1/2 minutes then the vocals with acoustic guitar return. "Lock Howl" is haunting as sounds build until 3 minutes in then it kicks in with handclaps and mellotron. Groovy stuff. We get drums and piano too. A haunting calm 4 minutes in then it builds again. Great track ! "Ljudet Innan" means "Anciient Music" in Swedish. It opens with 1 1/2 minutes of high pitched vocals then the mellotron floods in. It turns so heavenly after 4 minutes. A change after 5 minutes as tasteful electric guitar comes in. Then reserved vocals before 6 1/2 minutes. Mellotron and guitar after 8 minutes when the vocals stop.

I think it's stretching it a bit to say they've created something new here musically but they have taken each of their different musical influences and created something a little different that has their DNA all over it. They've maybe opened a new musical portal that is surreal, dark, atmospheric, disturbing, haunting and yet beautiful. Akerfeldt mentioned in an interview that listening to this on 5.1 sound blew him away. Hearing things he didn't hear before. This is an amazing headphone album.