Porcupine Tree
makes a triumphant return to
experimental
, non-linear style with 2007's
Fear of a Blank Planet
. Maybe
Steve Wilson
was afraid that the comparatively poppy
Deadwing
and
In Absentia
were edging too close to the mainstream, because he seems far less concerned with overtly accessible songwriting on
Blank Planet
. Even still, the cerebral, atmospheric sound on this album remains enormously compelling from almost the first moment. While there is no "radio single" on the disc -- certainly nothing with a conventional
pop
arc like
Lightbulb Sun
or
"Trains"
-- most songs transcend their complex structure and feel as provocative as any
traditional
rock
tune. The aptly named
"Sentimental,"
in particular, features
Wilson
's trademark lush arrangement with layers of vocals, piano,
ambient
synths, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, live drums and sampled drums -- but cutting through its tightly contained mosaic is an expertly constructed chord progression that evokes a desperate sense of tension and longing, developing incredible emotional momentum as the track progresses.
sounds like
spent about half of his studio time on the guitar; it's full of buzzy, meticulously distorted solos that you can easily picture him folding into the prototypical
amalgamation of drum machine, organ, and synthesizers during many long hours in front of the sound board. The quiet, English restraint with which
croons seems to have saved his voice from the decay that so many male singers experience over a twenty year career, and lucky for us (and for him), the style still works perfectly with
's sound. As a vocalist, he has an amazing capacity for juxtaposing cold, haunting moments against evisceratingly passionate ones, mostly thanks to the control he exerts over his instrument.
's clear, boy's choir timbre sounds like a torrent of frenzy and hunger when he breaks free of it and explores the limits of his vox on tracks like
"Sleep Together."
His sleepy, melodic approach also has the benefit of ensuring that his poetic lyrics, which run the gamut from acerbic social criticisms to wrenching personal narratives, are always perfectly discernible. Though it's only six tracks long, each of the songs on
is exquisitely crafted, even the 17-minute long
"Anesthetize."
has a great sense of flow, leading mournful,
ballads
into graceful crescendos, and over long interludes that sway blissfully throughout rises and falls, only occasionally losing themselves to moments of plodding or meandering. At roughly 51 minutes,
is short by
standards, but by measure of quality rather than quantity, it's one of the most substantial
prog
albums to come out in years. ~ Cammila Albertson