I.E.M.

The early Porcupine Tree albums Up The Downstairs and Signify list among my favourite albums ever. So you will not be surprised that I am entirely fascinated by this first I.E.M. album, an instrumental project where Wilson fully indulges in his obsession with kraut, space-rock and progressive electronic.

Some Highlights.

The Gospel According to IEM is a most exiting tribute to the sound of Neu!, Can and early Hawkwind. A classic Neu! groove sets the pace for this wonderful upbeat trip into space-rock anno 1996.

Fie Kesh is very different, with strong astern influences created by percussion, acoustic guitar improvisations and a looping bass that sits somewhere between Pink Floyd's Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun and Wilson's own Waiting Phase2. It's a great tune but I think that Ozric Tentacles and Djam Karet have done this better before.

Deafman veers back into Neu! mode, with a guitar loop that can't differ more then two notes from any of Neu!'s own riffs. Together with some stirring drum beat it serves as the vehicle for layers of backwards guitar noises, synth bleeps, oscillators, kraut nonsense vocals, reverby guitar solos, you name it. It builds up to a euphoric climax of noise and chaos. The works!

The album ends with Headphone Dust, which consists of beautiful quiet acoustic guitar strumming and eerie slide guitar. Overall, this a splendid homage to space-rock that you should give a listen if you're into the instrumental side of the bands listed here. 4.5 stars.