SIGNIFY

Signify was the band's next release and the first true group effort. Released in late 1996, it saw the integration of significant (heh) krautrock influence?the title track was derived from what began as a cover of Neu!'s "Hallogallo". I'd never considered krautrock's influence on this album, but after learning about this, I can definitely hear it. It's got a distinctly Wilsonian twist to it, and the main riff hints at future excursions into the world of progressive metal.

"Sleep of No Dreaming" is evidence of Steven Wilson's improving songwriting. By this point, he had established a distinct sound for his band. It drew from the '70s prog giants?especially Pink Floyd?but it was not nearly as derivative as Porcupine Tree's earlier works. It sounded more confident. The complex mix of cosmic and melancholy moods showed Porcupine Tree spreading their creative wings.

Signify isn't all proto-metallic space rock. "Waiting" is largely acoustic in its first half, and the second half shows an inventive integration of jazz and electronica in both the synths and the rhythm section. Barbieri's electronic touches get some prominent placement on "Idiot Prayer", and "Every Home Is Wired" marries rather sweet-sounding acoustic balladry with Wilson's signature cynicism.

That isn't to say Signify doesn't have its weak spots, though. Like many of the band's early efforts, a lot of songs drag on for a minute or two too long, and Wilson was still weaning himself off of excessive ambient interludes, most notably on the overlong penultimate track, "Light Mass Prayers".

Review originally posted here: theeliteextremophile.com/2019/11/24/deep-dive-porcupine-tree-steven-wilson/