WHAT WE HAVE SOWN

Lemme tell you about the birds and the bees. When a mommy Radiohead and a daddy Porcupine Tree love each other very much they have a Pineapple Thief. Jokes aside, The Pineapple Thief has got to be one of the most interesting bands I have come across due to them sounding like two different bands at the same time and seemingly executing it very well. So far they've released a good number of albums, all of which aren't half bad at all, heck some I might say are dang near amazing. One such album that I think is near the point of being called amazing is What We Have Sown. At this time they had a few songs that were in the vault if you'd say, some were made before this album's conception and was meant to be a love letter to their old label, Cyclops Records before switching to Kscope. Despite the fact these songs were written before, this album feels as original as ever, and that goes hand in hand with the songs found on this release.

The first song is All You Need to Know. Right off the bat you hear the band's more progressive aspect in the mellotron, which distinctly sounds like one Genesis or King Crimson would use with some nice acoustic playing in the back. In the first few minutes you hear some great distinction in the melodies and instruments that you never really see in many bands, especially those that sort combine two styles from two completely different bands. I definitely think they really honed in on what really worked in this style of music and really made it their own, which they had been doing ever since their second release of 137, but here it is extremely present on how good they can be in this sort of style of progressive rock. It's a great song that is both fun in its music and instrumentation, but heavy in its more depressive lyrics.

Next up is Well, I Think That's What You Said? I'd say if the last song was a grand fusion of Radiohead and Porcupine Tree, then this song is more reliant on the Radiohead side. I am definitely getting a lot of Ok Computer and The Bends vibes from this song, lots of technically interesting playing going around here, but the singing is very in tune with that of Thom Yorke's, obviously a little less high pitched. To be honest this is a weaker song on this album due to how it sort of relies on that sound Radiohead did in the 80s and then stopped doing when the 2000s rolled in, but there is still a lot to love on this song, like the drumming. Keith Harrison doesn't utilize a 4/4 beat but rather a (I think) 9/8 beat, which really creates a sort of interesting aspect this song brings to the table, cause it's a bit more pop in nature, but is definitely clearly utilizing and creating something progressive, or alternative. Definitely an interesting song despite its weakness.

Then we get Take Me With You. Now I have been really hammering in the band comparisons to The Pineapple Thief, I mean how could I really not, the singer and guitarist Bruce Soord was inspired by Porcupine Tree for basically the entire history of this band, but likewise so was Steve Wilson with bands like King Crimson or more so, Pink Floyd, which man, this song has a ton of that chill rock Pink Floyd energy. I guess influential Prog bands that start with P have this effect of making really strong slow chill tracks. Anywho, this song has some amazing acoustic work. Very moody in the guitar that goes hand in hand to that very delicate but raw bass playing. This song is just a very amazing moody song that does get a tiny bit experimental to the end. Not too much as to where it basically flips the song on its head, but definitely one where it's a bit unexpected and sorta throws you through a loop.

Next on the track list is West Winds. This is an instrumental track that shows a more experimental side of the band. The use of instruments create this almost foreboding atmosphere in the music, like a hero realizing the villain has got the upper hand and is now losing a battle. That is sorta what this song feels like. A lot of intense drumming and guitar work, not to where it turns to metal, but think of it as a more post rocky type of heavy where you sorta feel it in your head and gut. I get some small Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Mogwai vibes from this song. It's nicely done and gives a lot more atmosphere to this album.

Next song is Deep Blue World. This is a mostly acoustic song with drumming only coming in towards the end. It's very elegant in how it is played. The acoustic and the singing really give off this somber vibe through the song. Plus the violin work makes this song almost gives this song a sort of old Prog vibe as well, like almost a I Talk To The Wind feel where it's super somber but also very pretty. I do however feel the drumming at the end was very unnecessary and just slapped on for filler really. Honestly this track would be so much better without that ending with the drums. I get leaving a track with an ending of sorts, but many acoustic songs, whether they are pop or alt, work well without drums since they aren't needed with drums most of the time, and if you are going for a beat, maybe make it a bit more tribal sounding like on Biko by Peter Gabriel. It's definitely a more minute thing, but the song would be so much without it that I gotta address it.

And now the last song, the big 27 minute epic. What Have We Sown? Despite being Prog, The Pineapple Thief isn't really a band known for their epics. They are more of the shorter song band where their shorter works stand out, as opposed to their longer ones. I am not saying they can't craft a long song, obviously they can, but when I think of The Pineapple Thief, I think more so on their single digit minute songs that are more 1-9 minutes long, as opposed to songs like this that take a whole side on a record. Besides that, this song is actually pretty nice. It goes more towards an industrial rock sound, as opposed to a more softer rock style, giving this song a more metal flair to it. You can tell some industrial rock groups they probably saw inspired a lot of this song, and I think it works well with the sound the band usually has, while being different enough to where it's distinct. But as I said before, they are not a band that relies off of epics like many modern Prog bands do, because this song doesn't really have that epic ending where you feel like you've just gone through a wild journey. It definitely does have something of an ending but even their shorter songs have more grand endings than this. Despite all of that, it's definitely worth your time and can be a fun song to hear once in a while if I am being perfectly honest. A good closer to a great album.

So while not perfect, this album definitely gives a ton of great songs to enjoy, and I never feel as if my time gets wasted whenever I hear this album. I'd say give this release and basically the entirety of The Pineapple Thief a shot if you like the styles of Porcupine Tree and Radiohead.