Also see: ProgFest '99 ~ Vigevano Prog Festival '99 ~ NEARfest 2001
From: Burning Shed <> Date: Fri Jan 16, 2004 4:15 am
Subject: Porcupine Tree - Warszawa CD/21st Century Schizoid Band 'Live In Japan
- Official Bootleg Volume Two'
** Porcupine Tree - Warszawa CD
The second CD to be issued on Porcupine Tree's Transmission label is a live in
the studio recording made by Polish radio during the band's 2001 tour (the last
with Chris Maitland on drums). Also in the studio during the broadcast were an
invited audience of Polish fans who helped to make the atmosphere on the night
and on this recording so special, and the band consider this to be one of their
best performances. The CD runs over 79 minutes and features almost the entire
performance remixed from 32 track master tapes into pristine sound quality that
is far superior to the original on-air broadcast. The Warszawa CD comes in a
beautiful digipack sleeve and is available exclusively from this website. The
first Transmission release "XM" is now completely sold out.
Released on 2/2/2004 - Preorder now for ?13.00 (including VAT)
Available from
http://www.burningshed.com/ptshop.asp
** 21st Century Schizoid Band 'Live In Japan - Official Bootleg Volume Two'
Available previously only on the band's recent tours of Europe and Japan, and
recorded live in Tokyo on Nov 6th 2002, the 21st Century Schizoid Band's 'Live
In Japan - Official Bootleg Volume Two' is available now, priced ?12.00 from
http://www.burningshed.com/index.asp?page=artist&collection=25, which can also
be accessed via the band's official site.
Orders outside of the UK will not be likely to reach their destination until
after Christmas. Thursday 18th December is the last order date for the United
Kingdom. Please bear with us if you experience any delays over the Christmas
period.
Tracklisting: 1. Schizoid Intro 2. A Man, A City 3. Catfood 4. Let There Be
Light 5. Progress 6. Court of the Crimson King 7. Formentera Lady 8. Ladies of
the Road 9. I Talk To The Wind 10. Epitaph 11. BirdMan 12. 21st Century Schizoid
Man
Burning Shed http://www.burningshed.com/
From: "Richard Stockwell"
<>
I would suggest starting with "Coma Divine" which is a live album. Alot of
people don't like "live" albums unless they are already a fan of an artist/band.
Where Coma Divine differs is that it is possibly the best recorded live album ever
released. Although it is taken from the desk you do still hear the crowd between tracks
and the exceptionally high standard of the musicianship of "The Tree" should
'sell' you to want to see them in the flesh. Also the material on Coma Divine spans there
four studio releases so you get a good idea of their sound. The CD goes for approx 78
minutes from memory. There are soundsamples at the Cranium site from Coma Divine and also
Signify. Go to http://www.cranium.co.nz
From: "Craig Shipley" <>
...NEVER heard Porcupine Tree?!? Hie thee hence and wrap yer mitts around a copy of ...ON
THE SUNDAY OF LIFE (give it a little time to grow on you) or THE SKY MOVES SIDEWAYS (total
PF immersion) and, if you can find it, he-he, VOYAGE 34 (can you say THE WALL???). YELLOW
HEDGEROW DAYDREAM is impossible to find, but it has some great tracks on it. Personally, I
have never been disappointed with any PT that I have heard so far (don't care much for the
alter-Steve Wilson effort No-Man, at least from the one CD that I have). UP THE DOWN
STAIRCASE and its' "companion" EP STAIRCASE INFINITIES is a step away from the
solo Steve Wilson efforts and more towards the band that makes its' debut on TSMS;
recommended. SIGNIFY, the latest studio effort, is an earth-scorcher, with the title track
being a KC/Heldon-drenched guitar assault. And if you are really thinking about a trip out
West to hear these fellows, well, spin a copy of COMA DIVINE, the live PT in Roma CD to
get a taste (then you will HAVE to go!) The new one is due out the end of this month and I
can't wait!!!
I got turned on to the Tree in early '93. Chris at Of Sound Mind said that I'd like 'em
and he was right! The first one that I heard was ...ON THE SUNDAY OF LIFE and it took me a
few spins to like it. The problem was is that I never got around to listening to
"Radioactive Toy" or "It Will Rain For A Million Years", as I
generally rang off sometime around "Jupiter Island" (even though it had some
cool Hawkwind-ish audio generator sweeps). One day, I listened all the way through and I
was hooked! Had Chris send me EVERTHING that he had by 'em and snagged my copy of VOYAGE
34 then. This is a 34 minute track that has a definite PF "Wall" era sound to
it. It is a "documentary" of a bad acid trip (the documentary is provided by
what sounds like '60's-era audio clips from a health film). Supposed to be re-released in
all of its' four-sided glory (the CD that I have is only two of the four LP sides), but
who knows when??? BTW, PT uses a boatload of samples (NASA, radio preachers, Richard
Nixon; some used intact, some run through the shredder I.E. radio-preacher voice saying
"I want you to put Felix's penis on me" :-) ).Early Tree was all pretty much
solo Steven Wilson, but THE SKY MOVES SIDEWAYS was created by a four-piece band, with
Wilson on guitars, keys, effects and vocals, with Richard Barbieri on keys and synths,
Colin Edwin on basses and Chris Maitland on drums, percussion and occasional keyboards. I
think that band is the current band. Wilson has also made a guest appearance on Fish's
SUNSET ON EMPIRE release, on guitars & keys and harmony vocals(?).
A quick discography with * to indicate that it out of print... ON THE SUNDAY OF LIFE
(newly remastered, with picture disc and better artwork. This was a compilation of several
early cassette releases, which are now long out of print); YELLOW HEDGEROW DAYDREAM *
(leftovers & outtakes from the ...OtSoL sessions. Find a copy! Rumor of a
re-release?); VOYAGE 34 *; UP THE DOWN STAIRCASE (newly remastered, with picture disk,
blah-blah-blah); STAIRCASE INFINITIES *?; THE SKY MOVES SIDEWAYS (newly remastered, you
know the rest...); SIGNIFY; COMA DIVINE ..."the brainwashed do not know they are
brainwashed"...
A bit of info about SKY. For a brief while, it and SIGNIFY were available on a US label,
C&S. The US and the UK versions were dramatically different, with the single
"Stars Die" being interjected about halfway through (it does not appear at all
on the UK version that I have, only on a CD-EP). I have never heard the C&S version of
SKY, so I don't know how it sounds compared to the UK version. The US & UK version of
SIGNIFY are the same. C&S no longer is in business/handles the Tree/whatever.
BTW, the discography that I listed was for CD only. There ARE a few vinyl releases out
there, most with bonus material. I also forgot to mention Wilson's tribute to Krautrock,
The Incredible Expanding Mindfuck (can I say that here?). For quite a long time, only
available on LP but now out on CD with extra material. That one is coming along with the
new PT, STUPID DREAM (known in a previous life as AMBULANCE CHASING).
From: "Richard Stockwell" <>
(back to top)
I also must state my love of Porcupine Tree. I think I first heard them about 1992 or 93.
I purchased "Up The Downstair" from a mail order outlet (this was before I
started Cranium Music) and after taking a few spins to get into the music I was blown
away. I travelled the music shops asking if there were any other releases by the band but
got strange looks and questions from the shop people of Porcupine who ? .... no no no I'm
the customer and I'm asking the question :) In the end I got their other releases
from Delerium Records in England and Porcupine Tree became one the reasons for my starting
Cranium Music because I knew that "real", "awesome",
"fantastic" music was being made again. I've had all the rare vinyl for sale at
Cranium Music, which normally sells out pretty quick and if anyone is looking for copies
of the double 10" LP of "Metanoia" then you better get in pretty quick as I
understand this 1,000 LP pressing was sold out at Delerium one week before it's release. I
still have copies at Cranium. For those who live in the USA ... go see Porcupine Tree live
I don't think you will be disappointed, it's not everyday a band such as the
"Tree" come to a city/town near you. Actually I was hoping the band might have
flown back to the UK via NZ and Australia .... oh well one day.
From: Rob <>
>anyone got their new one "Stupid Dream"? I'm off to pick up my copy later
today :-)
I've heard a couple tracks and it sounds to me like they've given up on prog. They
sound like an early-90's British alternative band, I'm thinking specifically of the one
that ripped off Deep Purple's "Hush" for their big hit (I can't remember the
band or the song title.) It could be that the tracks I've heard were the lone
radio-friendly ones, but I didn't hear them on the radio so I'm kind of afraid. It still
sort of sounds like Porcupine Tree, only much less trippy. I really enjoyed Porcupine Tree
in their heyday as well, particularly the whole Sky Moves Sideways project (B-sides and
all) and am sorry to hear them taking a more conventional approach. I like plenty of
conventional music and their new songs are pleasant enough but they just don't appeal to
me as much as PT's earlier stuff. If they were one of my favorite bands I could see
sticking with them, but they're not.
From:
(Ron)
okay I listened to PT's new CD...... "Stupid Dream" last night and while it was
more "song" oriented it was still good... very good in fact. IMHO at least they
went for an aggressive sound and didn't go the wimpy sound route as some of their
forefathers did way back in the late 70's...
From: RAM
Man !! It's almost been a week already, and I'm still haunted by the "Porcupine
Tree" concert I saw last Friday. I didn't know about them until somebody on this list
mentioned them a couple of months ago and then I noticed that they were going to perform
locally and decided to check them out. I tell you, I'm convinced I had a religious
experience that night. The opening number "Even Less", which I hadn't heard till
then, made me weep. Does anybody else out there know what I'm talking about ? So thanks a
million, whoever you were that pointed out this band. I highly recommend them to anybody
out there who enjoys Pink Floyd.
From: "Adam Perkowsky"
Hi Ram and everyone else, I was at that show too and was blown away as well. I have been
into PT since "The Sky Moves Sideways" but never really put the band among my
all-time favorites. Well, they really put on a show that makes me want to listen to them
more and more. The day before Friday's show, PT did a short acoustic set at a Sam Goody in
Greenwich Village which proved that Steve Wilson can sing just as well as he can play
guitar. Afterwards, the whole band talked to and signed autographs for the 25 or so people
who attended. But it was the electric show that really impressed me. All of the songs from
the new CD "Stupid Dream" were as they are on the CD -- excellent. Most of the
older stuff they played were instrumentals and I think those were my favorite songs played
at the show. During their acoustic set, they had technical problems with the DAT/sampler
machine, from which sampled bits that are heard throughout PT's catalog, were heard
throughout the show. While the machine was being fixed, Steve Wilson played an impromptu
solo acoustic number that he played the night before. They had to take a short break while
the machine was being fixed, so the band left the stage. Wilson said, as he walked off,
"We are going to take a short break. This is just like a Pink Floyd concert!"
(which got a chuckle from the crowd). They came back and missed only one song from the
setlist. And even though it got real late, they came back on stage after the main set and
played both scheduled encores. I was very surprised at that because of the lateness of the
show due to technical problems. I was talking to the road manager/merchandise guy, Kozmik
Ken, before the show, and he said they had an early flight to L.A. for Progfest the next
morning, so I really must commend the guys for sticking it out and playing almost all of
the full set.
From:
I just saw these folks when i went to see Magma in LA on 6/1. I can't say that I was
overly impressed, but I enjoyed about half the set. The guitarist/singer (I guess that's
Steve Wilson from the posts I just read) was very good....I enjoyed the slower bits moe
myself (although I think I was in the minority here). Definitely noticed the Floyd
influence.
From: "Richard Stockwell" <>
That's what I like about Porcupine Tree is their ability to be able to put
prog/rock and electronic/ambient together in a seamless fashion which makes it
feel right and not forced. By Steven Wilson then having his various projects
either solo or by working with others (Bass Communion, Incredible Expanding
Mindfuck, No-man, Porcupine Tree) the listener is able to follow any or all the
landscapes Steven Wilson creates. That is why I've been such a big Steven Wilson
fan since discovering Porcupine Tree and subsequently Bass Communion & IEM.
This is one artist who has been influenced by progressive music and is taking it
forward. Robert Fripp in time will be acknowledged by the wider music world as a
major influence on 20th century music and I (personally) believe time will show
Steven Wilson to be important in musical evolution as well.
From: Gary Varney <>
I bought _The Sky Moves Sideways_ a few weeks ago. I selected that one based on
what I've read, that I'd probably like "old" P. Tree rather than the
"new" P. Tree. I really like it -- despite the fact that, IMHO, the
"Pink Floyd clone" criticisms are fully warranted. I play it fairly
frequently, and the kids enjoy it. Coincidentally, I'm listening to their latest
offering, _Stupid Dream_, for the first time as we speak. Found it in a local
used CD shop yesterday, so I figured I'd try it. So far it's boring the heck out
of me, frankly. In fact, I might be hawking it on this list here pretty soon...
From: Jeff Marx <>
The only PT album I have is Coma Divine, their live one. It took me a few
listens to really get into it...I find it to be instrumentally powerful, with
some pretty dramatic lyrics and vocals. While keyboardist Richard Barbieri plays
some great shimmering spacey synths, he *still* needs to work on his
soloing...but of course Steve Wilson lights it up pretty fully on guitar and
vocals.
From: RAM <>
I like Porcupine Tree a lot. Their gig in NYC blew me away. I have a hard time
labeling them as a prog group in the same way I have a hard time labeling Pink
Floyd as a prog group. However, their earlier stuff is way off mainstream and
they evolved into more-or-less a mainstream group. The last album "Stupid
Dream" has a killer first track and then the rest sound of it sounds like
typical British stuff. At first I was bored with the album, but then it grew on
me and now I like it a lot, but I can't explain why. As the expression goes
"I've grown accustomed to her face." If any of you are planning to
unload this CD, I think you may regret it further on down the road. If it's got
tracks on it that you like, my advice is to hold on to it. I remember when I
first heard the U.K. album, I thought it was strange. One year later, the album
was one of my top ten favorite records.
From: "Gandalf ." <> Subject: Gandalf's Review of Lightbulb Sun by Porcupine Tree Hi everyone. I've been exploring some interesting music recently and bought the new Porcupine Tree album. I've reviewed it, although I'm not familiar with the band and would appreciate views from fans more knowledgeable about the band than I am. I hope you enjoy the review and find it helpful. Gandalf's Review: Lightbulb Sun by Porcupine Tree The first thing to say about Lightbulb Sun (56:17) is that it's the first album that I've heard from Porcupine Tree. I believe they have had a number of releases previously, so I've got a lot to learn about this band and their work. It has been said that they sound a bit like Pink Floyd, but to be honest, I could not detect any such comparison on this fine album. It has also been said that Porcupine Tree's music is hard to define, and that it is probably progressive rock. I'll reserve my judgment on that for the moment and stick to what I heard on this album. To the tracks..... 1. Lightbulb Sun (5:31) - A nice acoustic beginning with a breathy vocal and then at 0:48 it kicks into a Zeppelin-like groove, reminiscent of Jimmy Page's guitar in "In My Time Of Dying" and it then smoothes out into a regular rock song with a good backbeat, some great acoustic and electric guitar work, and occasionally, a nice mellow piano in the background. The track drifts from light to heavy and back again and ends with children's voices in a playground. This is a good, strong beginning to the album; it's a catchy tune and best played loud! 2. How Is Your Life Today? (2:46) - This lovely light track has an entirely different mood, with beautiful vocals, piano, hammered dulcimer and a wonderful harmony. The rhythm is a bit like "Waltz Into Black" by the Stranglers, but this for me is a much nicer, although shorter, track. 3. Four Chords That Made A Million (3:36) - Is this a piss-take? I think so! It has tabla, a britpop groove, and a cheeky lyric which basically identifies the simplicity of today's songwriting success. It's Blur, Oasis, Pulp, Kula Shaker and David Bowie all rolled into one. It's also, significantly, the weakest song on the album! 4. Shesmovedon (5:13) - Now this song is just a treasure; tight drum and guitar groove, joined by a wah wah riff, and it then moves up into something really special. There's another great vocal on this track. The song gets heavier as it progresses which works really well and holds your interest. The mid-section features that wonderful guitar sound which The Smashing Pumpkins managed to create on "Whir" and there's a superb guitar solo at 3:25 which lasts almost to the end of the track. Glorious! 5. Last Chance To Evacuate Planet Earth Before It Is Recycled (4:48) - The first part, called Winding Shot (Summer 1981), has a folky beginning and, following a brief vocal, proceeds to part two (Last Chance To Evacuate Planet Earth Before It Is Recycled) which is an instrumental with, I believe, a recording of that alien-looking madman who, together with his followers, committed mass suicide a number of years ago under the delusion that they had all arrived on Earth from another planet and could only return home by killing themselves so that they could float off into space. Hmm! Anyway, it's a nice track, but will not be to everyone's taste. 6. The Rest Will Flow (3:14) - Nice acoustic guitar chords, then strings, then the vocal. A bit like the Verve but a bit more delicate. Again, a light Hammond organ in the background. One would expect the keyboards to be more up front but the arrangement works - you find yourself listening closely to find the various interesting bits that are tucked away in the background, and there are a good few of these. This is the sort of track where you discover something different each time you hear it. 7. Hatesong (8:26) - Nice fretless bass at the beginning, some harmonics on electric guitar and then we're off into a Charlatans-type rock song. A piano joins this and then we're informed that this is a hatesong! At around 1:40 it goes up a notch and becomes heavier. The chorus doesn't kick in until around 3:00, but it's worth waiting for because it leads into an even heavier part of the song with some great guitar work and some interesting keyboards. Good guitar solo at 5:23 and we're back to the chorus at 6:00. We then have a fascinating jam with electric guitar, excellent drum and bass, and haunting, intermittent keyboards which lasts until the end of the track where we are joined by songbirds! A very listenable and rewarding piece of music and one of the strongest tracks on the album. 8. Where We Would Be (4:12) - This is a bit mournful, with strummed acoustic guitar. A decent electric guitar solo at 2:24, but overall, not a strong track and a bit thin compared with some of the other, more intricate pieces on the album. A bit like Frankie Goes To Hollywood meets Tears For Fears! 9. Russia On Ice (13:03) - A slow, ponderous track with a bass hook which is just superb. Good guitar solos, solid drum work and a breathy vocal lead to a chorus at around 4:00 and then we're joined by strings. Listen for the wonderful guitar solo at around 5:00 which fades away into an orchestral bass riff. The echoed vocal, the strings and the slow pace of the songs provides the listener with a sense of vast space and cold. At 6:48 the bass decides to jazz itself up a bit and is then joined by some meaty electric guitar and the whole thing takes off into a heavy-riffed, head-banging, rock song, ending with church bells and keyboards! Q Magazine called this track too long, mournful and boring - I can only suggest that the person who reviewed it did not listen to the track in full, if at all. I loved this track and hope that Porcupine Tree do more of the same. 10. Feel So Low (5:18) - a slow, poignant, track to finish the album, a bit like some of the quieter songs by U2. The lyrics are rather downbeat, but good harmonies and background keyboards accompany a nice vocal. Soft acoustic and electric guitar is joined by strings so that the whole song builds up into a gentle, layered, ballad. A really nice track with a slight Celtic feel to it, possibly because the string arrangement at the end reminded me of early Van Morrison. VERDICT: There is a wealth of interesting material on this album, with great arrangements and intelligent use of strings. Most of the songs are strong, particularly the lengthier ones, but there are a couple of weak ones (eg Where We Would Be). I love Steven Wilson's vocals and the harmonies; the guitar work is also excellent. I'd be pushing it to call this a prog album, although there are areas where the music is expanded and a bit more experimental. This album is nearer "Verve" territory than modern prog, but I stress that I haven't listened to Porcupine Tree's earlier work. If it is like "Russia On Ice" or "Hatesong" then I'd be a bit more satisfied with the prog label. But I'm not too bothered about labels - Porcupine Tree's music is good and I enjoyed Lightbulb Sun a lot. It's definitely worth a listen, although it will not be to everyone's taste. The sleeve notes are helpful and provide information about who played what, and where, and you get all the lyrics. I particularly liked the bit where we are informed that Chris Maitland uses Zildjan cymbals, Steven Wilson uses Boots nasal spray, and Richard Babrieri uses outdated keyboards! I give this album (7/10). I'd love to see this band perform live; I hear they are to support Dream Theater when they tour Europe later this year. That should be quite a bill!
From: "Craig A. Shipley" <> Having been a fan of the band since "...On The Sunday Of Life", I'll have to say that the PF influences are most noticeable on that album (Wilson's Dave Gilmour-ish guitar solos), "Voyage 34" (damn-near a complete lift of some of the signature riffs from "The Wall") and "The Sky Moves Sideways". After the release of the live "Coma Divine" CD, the band took a complete left turn into the more mainstream arena with "Stupid Dream", which, while being a fine album, completely disappointed me and has not grown on me with repeated listening. I will probably pick up a copy of "Lightbulb Sun", but it sounds like another stab at commercial success...
From: "Damien Costanza" <>
I like Porcupine Tree but I must admit that I like Wilson's other project,
No-man, even better. Tim Bowness, the singer from No-man, is incredibly talented
and I've also enjoyed his work with Flame and Samuel Smiles as well. He sounds a
great deal like David Sylvian, so if you can imagine Sylvian singing with
Porcupine Tree and this intrigues you, you'll dig No-man. Their single,
"Days in the Trees" was even something of a hit on intelligent
alternative stations circa 1992.
From: Burning Shed <>
Subject: Re: Porcupine Tree
For those that aren't aware, I thought that the Porcupine Tree fans amongst you
might like to know about www.burningshed.com. The site is primarily
a specialist online, on demand CDR label, but we also stock CDs by related
artists.
Steven Wilson, the Porcupine Tree mainman has several albums available
exclusively through the site:
IEM - IEM Have Come For Your Children/Arcadia Son
A psychedelic Kraut Rock band, IEM is Steven Wilson backed by Colin Edwin and
Geoff Leigh (ex Henry Cow) amongst others. Wholly instrumental,
this is an extension of the more experimental aspects of early Porcupine Tree
material. These albums are released through Steven Wilson's own label
Headphone Dust and can be found on the Shop section of the Burning Shed site.
The debut IEM release is still available from Delerium Records.
No-Man - Lost Songs Volume One/Radio Sessions 1992-96
No-Man is the duo of Tim Bowness and Steven Wilson. The Radio Sessions contain
live material recorded on UK radio with Jansen, Barbieri and
Karn (Rain Tree Crow/Japan) on five songs and Colin Edwin and Chris Maitland on
four. Recommended to fans of Talk Talk, David Sylvian, Blue Nile,
Massive Attack and Kate Bush, it's also worth checking out their strongest
studio albums 'Flowermouth' (1994) and 'Returning Jesus' (2001).
Bass Communion - Bass Communion III
This is the third album from Steven Wilson's Ambient project. Very much
concerned with sonic textures, this is recommended to fans of Eno, Paul
Schutze and electronica.
From: "jet22p" <>
Subject: Re: Porcupine Tree at NEARfest- WOW!!!!!!
> I wish someone would listen to the great NEARfest 2001 Porcupine
Tree
> here's the set list. i got
it from the nearfest site. its almost all from stupid dreams and lightbulb sun
The day before I was asking about ONE Porcupine Tree song I heard on the
internet - then this post comes up. I just spent the last 2 hours in AWE,
watching this PT Nearfest video feed!!! WOWWW!!!!!!!!
FANTASTIC!!! Now I gotta work on getting these albums. Ahhh, so much great
music, so little money!!!