THE SKY MOVES SIDEWAYS

More than a "must" in every Prog Rock collection, "The Sky Moves Sideways" is without a doubt, one of the most significant records that'd describe and suit the genre perfectly. Evidentially, this exercise of wonderful music gives us that certain flashback to the beginnings of crossover prog intertwined along the scent of a renewed formula that happens to be quite appealing. This masterpiece resembles to me a well illustrated novel, presenting a dazzling prologue and a ravishing epilog with some chapters in between that turns the trip into some magical dream and this never-ending story.

Phase One: You can almost feel the presence of a Floydian spirit wandering around through the first couple of chords and this upbeat drum that creates an eyes wide shut paradise depicted in beautiful colors, images, scenes and unknown whereabouts in your mind. The song takes its time to let Steve WILSON's voice chirp in a burst of poetry. The lyrics are as smooth and comfortable as the music running in the background. The blend is just unbelievable. This opening scene will carry on flowing through unpretentious passages for a while, making your skin crawl slowly just to the point where you unconsciously realize time and space have become second because your senses have already been abducted by the rhythm and the suffocating ambiance. Strangely how, almost nineteen minutes of your life have turned into a déjà-vu that'd leave you a little numb and unease from the inside out. Just amazing.

The disturbing noise of an unanswered ringing phone suddenly appears nervously in the act. Tension is right away shattered by the thundering sound of compassed strings and a low tuned spoken voice drawing the musical canvas. "Dislocated Day" is certainly a straightforward rock piece that fits delightfully within the record. It has no fluidity on the arrangements but surprisingly, it catches your attention into wondering just to promptly figure out the ending has just shut your ears. Its transition far from elaborated, is rich in its powerful impact and practical to the means of the whole album.

Right after, "The Moon Touches Your Shoulder" reveals the inner peace and the quiet falling drops of a landscaping ballad that ends up flooding your insides. Neither touchy nor mellow, the song fulfills expectation out of complex simplicities and evocative words. The righteous soulful side for such a humongous record.

Fortunately or unfortunately, I happen to own the Digipack reissue which presents "Moonloop" in its "Improvisation" and "Coda" versions. I haven't had the chance to listen to the original track of the LP, but I can picture it's got almost the same nomenclature described on Disc 2 of this special edition. This song to me reveals the psychedelic warp from which the band came out in the very begging of their prominent career. The instrumentation is harmonious yet it could be erratic depending from which side of the glass you are standing on at the time you're spinning the record.

Phase Two: The closing section of the battle within. It's not only the second chapter to the most astonishing epic by the band, but the missing jigsaw to complete the puzzle. The Floydian-like act remains throughout sliding guitars and space passages that underlines the ambiance of the record. Despite of being the sequel to Part One, it's so unique and unlike at the same time. The musical revelation goes further on through whimsical arrangements and unexpected composing. The lyrics here turn out to be less punchy and only subsequent instead of giving away a proper closure. Still, the purpose is mesmerizing and convincing.

Definitely to many progheads, this may be their favorite album by the English band and to others like me, the most Progressive record PORCUPINE TREE has given birth to among their promising discography. The musical conspiracy perpetuated in here goes far from eloquent to be defined as brilliant. Deservedly, a masterpiece of Prog Rock. Nothing left for me to say.