Closure / Continuation

I have all of the Porcupine Tree albums, many on vinyl. However, although all of their albums have brilliant music on them, I always feel there is a bit of lull on 2-3 tracks which sometimes makes me lose interest and move to another album/band. Same goes for The Flower Kings, Transatlantic and Opeth but not the case with my very favourite prog metal (Dream Theater, Fates Warning, Threshold) and doom metal (Katatonia, Soen) bands. However Continuation/Closure is brilliant and engaging throughout. “Chimera’s Wreck” is, with Lazarus, my all-time favourite PP track. There is a really good blend of melodic prog and prog metal to keep most fans happy and Steven Wilson’s vocals are really expressive, especially in the quieter passage. Love it and hopefully there will be more to come (worried about the word “Closure” in the title!) as was not a fan of Steven Wilson’s last solo album, although I respected what he was trying to do. Next up is the new Riverside album!

OK, so if you are a fan of Porcupine Tree, a review is likely to be pointless - you'll be buying this anyway. If you are not a fan, then a review is again pointless - this album is unlikely to turn your head if it has remained unturned previously. If you have never heard of the band, and you like like your rock to be progressive yet spacy, with lush soundscapes and sweet melodies then I can assure you that you are missing a rare treat. Steven Wilson stands as one of the best producers out there in these modern times, while Gavin Harrison is arguably the best drummer on the planet, now that Neil Peart has transcended this plain. Richard Barbieri's sense of space and dynamic within soundscapes is just jawdroppping. When you combine the sensibilities of these musicians into one body of work, it will always be breathtaking. How much of your breath is taken will of course depend on your familiarity with the bands previous work - there is nothing here that breaks their own mould, and little that scales previously reached heights - but even a mediocre Porcuine Tree album stand leagues above the vast majority of their comtemporaries.

Start with the important part first. Its a very good album. I know popular opinion is that 'The Incident' wasnt a great Porcupine tree album but I liked it. I like it better than this one actually, but this is still a great album.The released singles are the best tracks on the album for me. 'Harridan' is a wonderfully powerful first return (Gavin Harrison... what were you taking to achieve that level of musicianship!) and 'Of the New Day' is quirky and powerful much in the vein of previous PT albums. I didnt like 'Rats return' on first listen but then I'm reminded of the 'Prog 5 times' rule and yes.. I love it now. 'Herd Culling' was great in the edited form but is much better for the full mix. Right... thats the ones already released dealt with.'Dignity' is... nice. It's a very porcupine tree 'Prodigal' type slower track. It really has its place on the album but it sounds quite strange at first after the 4 high octane singles. 'Walk the plank' is quirky and awkward and is probably the closest to what Steven Wilson is doing now... Its enjoyable though... which is more that I can say for 'The future bites'.Less successful for me is 'Chimeras wreck' which is almost too proggy and a bit dull. Its a sad way to close the album in my eyes. It's unusual in that it's something I though Steven Wilson personally was steering well away from. It has nice bits which remind me of 'The Watchmaker' but it never really takes off. Maybe there was too much power in the other songs for this to sit comfortably next to it.The three songs on the Deluxe edition are all good. The first (Population three) is an instrumental and feels a bit like several bits stuck together to appeal to PT fans.. not very coherant. 'Never Have' is a strong effort again, back to the softer PT ballads and 'Love in the past tense' is pleasant if not that memorable. Stick those three on the main CD and you have a banger... instead of ending on the muddled 'Chimeras Wreck'.The thing that gets me though (and I havent knocked a star off for this because its the music I'm judging). The presentation is abysmal.The standard CD comes with a folded sheet instead of a booklet... I know thats quite common nowadays but its a tatty sheet of paper. I'll take that.What I take exception to is the 'Deluxe' edition which is anything but Deluxe. A white sleeve with stickers for the bands name and tracklist on it. A flimsy programme like booklet and the worst cd holding bifold of cardboard I've ever had the misfortune to come across. £50! Come on! I've got Steven Wilsons 'Hand Cannot Erase' Deluxe next to it and.... I know that was a super 'expensive to make' edition but that was £45 when new. A full hardback book, endless inserts. There is no comparison.I know SW has a passion nowadays in making product that looks 'no frills' but this setup is just 'no effort'. It's not a design concept... It's just pure lack of design and laziness. Whoever designed this thing are absolutely stealing a living.Album though... very good. I like that I'm uncomfortable with some of it. Glad that it took some time to get used to bits. I'd hate it to just sound like Porcupine tree trying to do Porcupine tree (even though it does sound like PT in a lot of places) and I'm glad Steven hasnt chosen to drag it into the swirling drain that is the majority of his last 2 albums (well certainly the last one) and that his influence here.. together with the collaboration with the other 2 band members is tasteful and thought provoking.Gavin Harrison by the way!! What an absolute monster of a performance on this album. I'd forgotten just how good he is. Wasted on Pineapple Thief and their procession of identical albums.

Some time following ‘the incident ‘ album 2009 Steven Wilson & Gavin Harrsion got together quite a bit over the succeeding years, ( as they lived near each other) and Jammed, with Richard Barbieri the keyboard player later popping up with some material too. Bass player Colin Edwin sadly no where to be seen. I personally was quite impressed with this latest offering. Can’t understand how any long time fan can have any problem with it. Longest track ‘chimera’s wreck’ needs to be listened to a few times to appreciate it. So great old & new style PT on this one. Sadly as many have mentioned you get a 7 track cd but there’s 3 more excellent tracks on mp3 version. These 3 tracks that ended up on a wildly expensive deluxe edition, well over £50 for it. Buy the mp3 version & you get all 10 tracks. I bought the vinyl & then purchased the 3 missing tracks on mp3. In MHO those tracks should have been included on the standard release. Classic example of business marketing exploration of their fans. Don’t understand why Mr Wilson has allowed this as he often talks about what is fare & just. Surely it’s not fare & just to his fans to fleece them. Don’t get me wrong I’m a big fan & have been to their concerts especially in the early days, have all the albums cds/ vinyl & dvd’s. I just feel Mr Wilson should remember that his long term fans & new fans deserve better than to be ripped off. Who knows maybe a remastered edition of this cd/ vinyl which he is fond of releasing might include those missing great tracks. Enjoy !

Not their finest, but much more representative than The Incident. Good to have them back.

Not their best, but certainly some very good stuff here, a must have of course i suppose for serious fans!.