LIGHTBULB SUN

Another superb installment in the discography of PT this time emphasizing a much higher emphasis on vocal harmonies and a wider use of instrumentation (Tabla, Banjo, harp, sitar). As you would expect "Lightbulb Sun" contains the patented PT space prog accents with a wide range of sonic and mood changes all wrapped inside the thoughtful lyrics of Steve Wilson. In many ways this album musically builds off of "Stupid Dream" delivering some real thought provoking and "punchy" musical ideas appearing to represent some bad dream sequences. "Lightbulb Sun" actually captures the worldly doldrums and urban existence questions in a similar way "Radiohead" achieved on "OK Computer". Highlight for me here are the tracks "Shesmovedon" and the grand finale "Feel So Low" which concludes the album leaving the listener questioning the whole journey of life itself and our existence. Steve Wilson's musical brilliance is bubbling over here with the mix of orchestral elements on some of the tracks (Minerva Quartet- Violin, Viola, Cello) and raw guitar, bass and percussive musical swoops. All of this is layered over Barbieri's carefully crafted analog keyboard landscaped atmospheres. Deep album with some simply superb musicianship and top notch song writing making this album one of the bright spots of 2000 for this progressive rock music fan... let me call this another essential recording... "Brilliant stuff".