CLOSURE/CONTINUATION

We arrive in into 2022 with news porcupine tree will be releasing a new album after 13 years. Closure/continuum launches off where the trio Wilson, Harrison and Barbieri left off in 2009. After a great 13 year solo career Steven Wilson reinvigorates the band and charts a course into familiar yet sonically beautiful territory nonetheless with some great heavy prog songs like "Harridan" and "Herd Culling" which both exhibit some heavier riffing utilising compound meter and syncopated rhythms. These songs best demonstrate the band really adventuring off into progressive rock territory with their extended track length, allowing band to explore other ideas which enhances the song structure/composition while taking avid prog rockers on a journey (something that modern music rarely does).

In addition to other songs like "on the new day" and "dignity" which are a throwback to Steven Wilsons earlier song writing sensibilities and have a great sense of contrast (from the aforementioned heavier tracks) which incorporates a deep sense of self introspection in the lyrics accompanied with some beautiful acoustic guitars and which also moderately utilise the classic Steven Wilson vocal harmonies that really fill out the mix (when present).

Richard Barbieri again delights us with some intricate and sublime sound design aspects in addition to some raunchy synth tones. Songs like "Dignity" reveal some almost yes type classically inspired lead melody lines used in the section before the bridge, while tracks like "Walk The Plank" have an interesting melody line played on synth in conjunctions with some synth effect sounds thorough the song. Ultimately every song has great use of sound design/subtle effects, brining a greater sense of depth and dimensionality to the song whilst drawing the listener into a sonically rich atmosphere of music.

Audiophiles and fellow PROG music lovers alike will quickly begin to fully appreciate this album after a few listens, this album has some of the greatest dynamic range/headroom I think I have ever come across in addition to a very musically warm and rich recording sound that has great sonic depth. While Steven Wilson remains once again in the rightfully deserved producers seat, Gavin Harrison takes on the roll mixing the drums in which they both do a fantastic job. You may find yourself turning up the volume, like classical music there's great contrast between the lowest and highest levels which is a sign of only moderate use of compression, limiting and loudness.

* People have mentioned that not adding the three extra tracks on the deluxe boxset version was not the best idea as these tracks are very strong contenders with the rest of the album, so maybe a deluxe 2 CD would have been a good idea in conjunction to the standard CD and deluxe boxset. HOWEVER you can buy the extra tracks online (HD TRACKS) and also stream them etc. ALSO the ALBUM LEGNTH I personally think the 50 min mark is a good balance for an album if songs are good, which they are after all many "masterpieces were approximately 40 mins in length one cannot expect a band to release a 12 track minimum masterpiece album every few years. Sumarry

Whist this album may not appeal to all listeners straight away, I would encourage all listeners to approach with an open mind, however in saying that it does a great job at conjuring up different aspects of Porcupine Tree that we ALL like for example long format hard prog rocking tracks that allow the band explore sonic ground, Steven Wilson's lightbulb/ In absentia era like songwriting sensibilities together with social/political and introspective lyrics, Gavin Harrison's fantastic drumming and the sound design/atmospherics and synth tones Barbieri creates. There had been great expections for this album, yet I think after some time like "In absentia" the album will really catch on with people as it demonstrates fantastic musicianship, great contrast of songs together with impeccable production and mixing. 4.5 stars.