UP THE DOWNSTAIR

There are many layers of Porcupine Tree that need to be considered. When they first started out they were a 'joke' project that Steven Wilson made to create a fictional band. Their (or mainly his) idea was a weird blend of avant garde electronica along with psychedelic music. It's funny to look at what this 'joke' has become.

This being their first real album, the songs were well developed, a lot of focus was on the instrumentation and their was more of a solo effort from Steven, since the rest of the band were only hired as session musicians.

The songs on this album are amazing, really making Steven's foetal creations better than most artists' later accomplishments. There also was a lot of arty implements in this album, making it a lot more thoughtful.

1. What You Are Listening To - A weird intro with a very cool spoken introduction to the album.

2. Synesthesia - Quite catchy compared to their later efforts. The piano loop is very colourful and cool.

3. Moments Burn Into Moments - Another psychedelic interlude.

4. Always Never - I love the calm intro. The instrumental passages are very weird and wonderful.

5. Up The Downstair - The spoken word sounds amazing with the ambient background. Incredibly relaxing to listen to. Has a Chemical Brothers psych vibe to it. Just amazing basically.

6. Not Beautiful Anymore - A cool instrumental with some nice funky pulses.

7. Siren - Does what it says basically.

8. Small Fish - Very Incredible String Band, with some lovely folk like passages.

9. Burning Sky - I love the way it leads in from Small Fish. Amazing guitar work, psychedelic rock at it's best. There is also a weird Rush vibe to the end of the song.

10. Fadeaway - A classic Porcupine Tree song and could have easily have been later material.

CONCLUSION: Although not as good as their later material (which is amazing and some of the best music you may ever hear in your life), this album does have a great spacey vibe to it. Buy it, it really is something.