IA / DW / XT

It's amazing how much material PORCUPINE TREE releases outside of its studio albums. So much that i really don't want to keep up with it all but something inspired me to check out this newest archival release of bonus tracks from the 'In Absentia' and 'Deadwing' sessions and that is because that is my absolute favorite period of PORCUPINE TREE! With the rather cryptic title of IA / DW / XT, this four track EP features two tracks that only appeared on the 'In Absentia' Deluxe Edition and two tracks from the 'Deadwing' Deluxe Edition.

Those Deluxe Editions were only released on CD. Both of those feature an unthinkable amount of bonus material ranging from new tracks to demos, live recordings and everything but the kitchen sink. I never thought much of those but i do love me some bonus tracks that didn't make it to the actual albums and that's what you get here. This EP has only been released on vinyl but easily heard on YouTube. The four song EP only lasts about 21 minutes but this is another winner of an EP!

'Drown With Me' and 'Chloroform' are from the 'In Absentia' sessions and really fit in perfectly with the album with the same ambient space prog meets hard rock and occasional heavier metal. Both these tracks feature vocals and Steven Wilson has never sounded better. 'Revenant' and 'Mother And Child Divided' are from the 'Deadwing' sessions and are entirely instrumental. They tackle the usual PORCUPINE TREE magic but melodic ambient post-rock sounding intros slowly ratcheting up the tension to rock and then heavier rock with the expected crescendoes displaying an excellent uses of psychedelic space rock ceding into more direct heavy prog rock heft.

For only four songs this one has already become quite expensive due to the fact it was limited to only 800 copies on vinyl. I'll pass as i'm sure one day an entire album of just bonus material will emerge which collectively will constitute an amazing PORCUPINE TREE album in its own right. These four songs are every bit as essential as anything on the 'In Absentia' or 'Deadwing' albums however those albums are masterpieces in their own right for not only the songs they contain but in how they connect together.

While this EP lacks that cohesiveness when taken as excellent individual tracks unavailable to the vast majority of fans who weren't willing to shell out big bucks for deluxe editions, this isn't a bad way to go. It's also worth mentioning that this record was cleared using an ultrasonic cleaning system and recorded to be run through software that reduces audio defects. The production is crystal clear perfect as always and is a great bit of bonus material that shows the PT in its prime.