STUPID DREAM

Like its predecessor "Signify", Porcupine Tree's fifth album "Stupid Dream", moves away from the extensive cosmic lucubrations to get a little closer to the earthly sphere, developing soundscapes where the sung sections acquire greater prominence, which are complemented by the forcefulness and the hypnotic and mysterious tone so characteristic of the band's compositions.

"Stupid Dream" describes, on the one hand, melodies full of intensity, such as the opening "Even Less" and Steven Wilson's guitar creating a raspy riff well supported by the tangled synthesized sounds of Richard Barbieri, or the maturity of "Don't Hate Me" with the novel and elegant saxophone of Theo Travis that is supported by the solid bass line of Colin Edwin and the percussion of Chris Maitland, or the precious and arpeggiated depth of "Smart Kid", or the instrumental "Tinto Brass" with Maitland's percussion as a base for Wilson's guitar ramblings and Travis' uninhibited flute and, on the other hand, the album also draws less complex scenarios, which although they are more commercially accessible, like the light "Piano Lessons", the rhythmic "Pure Narcotic" or the agile "Stranger by the Minute", their lesser complexity does not affect their musical value despite some questioning grimaces that arose among the band's early followers.

Underpinned by impeccable production, an aspect of the band's constant care, "Stupid Dream" represented a step forward in Porcupine Tree's ascending career, and brought them much greater public recognition than all their previous albums.

Very good

3.5/4 stars