NIL RECURRING

One might think that these four tracks are simple leftovers from the "Fear Of A Blank Planet" Album, but they are not just that. While written for that Album and some shadows from the original are displayed in "Normal" and "What Happens Now" this EP has a life of its own.

The first track "Nil Recurring" is a haunting instrumental, that features Robert Fripp (with a frantic Fripp-Solo) and sounds definately like a track that they could have done around the "Signify" Era, especially the middle part sounds like some of the "Metanoia" material. This is something I missed since then, and I'm glad they'd reinvented this kind of music here. This song has a great groove. Great opener.

"Normal" sounds like an alternate take on "Sentimental", but it is only the chorus that is revisited here, while the whole verse theme is completely different as is the coda, that takes one back to the days of "Stupid Dream". This is a nice crafted song much more in the original vein of their typical sound, that we are all used to. The second part of the song features some splendid acoustic guitar parts, that sound almost "Tullish". Only the short metal break in the middle is quite pointless, but seems to be needed to combine both parts of the song. Well I think they could do better than that. But this is the only complain I have with this EP.

"Cheating The Polygraph" was played on tour in 2006 and I remember this song well. Nothing special really but nevertheless a good song. This sounds like the little brother of "Futile" at times, but it is more atmospheric and straightforward. A good rocking tune that would have fitted well on the original album, but it was replaced by "Way Out Of Here", which is my favourite song on the album. On the LP and the DVD-A this song is placed right after "My Ashes" and I think that this is a better transition into "Anesthetize".

The Last track "What Happens Now" is one of the trademark songs this band creates once in a while. Like "Dark Matter", "Hatesong" or "Gravity Eyelids" this song is a perfect example what this band is about. Many trademark sounds and styles are represented here. From the hypnotic eastern percussion during the intro to the dark brooding finale, we are visiting every phase from the PT catalogue. I especially like how this song builds up to the almost trance-like middle part with its infectious groove, where Richard Barbieri ads lots of swirling synthesizer sounds. "Anesthetize" is revisited and acts as a bridge for the last part with intricate rhythm patterns that leads into the BIG finale. Great, great song !!!

The whole atmosphere of this EP is remiscent to the album and all songs would have fitted into the concept. But Wilson wanted a compact 50 minute piece of music, so we got another great Porcupine Tree album in 2007 - allthough it is quite short ;-).

5 Stars