LIGHTBULB SUN

Porcupine tree will deliver a very pleasant rock album with "Lightbulb. Traditonal "PT" music like during the title and opening number which is just amazing. It started as a mellow song and as this song buids crescendo, it gets little by little fully rock and a great and furious guitar solo will dynamize the whole quite a bit (but there will be several during this album). "Hatesong" is a bit in the same vein (I mean typical "PT" song). This hard and hypnotic riff is fully Crimsonesque of course.

Several genres formed this album.

"How Is Your Life Today" is mostly melancholic, even childish. It fully reminds me "The Beatles" at some point. Some pop-rock song as well like the very good "Four Chords To Make A Million" (philosophically punkish).

One will also have some indication as to know some "Riverside" influence.This is noticeable during "Shesmovedon" : these riffs are pretty similar to those of Piotr (the guitar player from "Riverside"). It is another beautiful song from "Lightbulb" with so inspired vocal harmonies. The closing guitar solo is brilliant and passionate. A highlight.

Some weaker parts are also featured but not too many ("Last Chance To Evacuate Planeth Earth" and the mellowish "The Rest Will Flow"). This album is one of the most melodic of the band. A wonderful example is "Where We Would Be". Pastoral start, and an incredibly beautiful guitar solo again. I just like them. So much passion. I NEED these moments, they are so enjoyable and relaxing. This song is also fully Floydian.

The band also somehow returned to their roots when displaying a fully space-rock music. The long "Russia On Ice" is the best example. It is my favourite song of this album. It has an hypnotic but slow-paced riff, beautiful guitar (hi David) and such Floydian oriented-vocals. The link is more than obvious here (but not only). It is one of their most melodious song ever written. It wouldn't a true "PT" song if some harder elements weren't involved. So, we'll get them as well here. During these, Crimson is not far away.

The closing number is on the mellow side (with such a title, I guess that it is all but normal : "Feel So Low"). There are several options to close an album. Either you have a great epic and almost the best track or you have some sorts of left over to fill the album. IMO, this song belongs to the second category and could have been skipped. "Russia On Ice" would have such a great way to end this album...

Three stars.