INSIGNIFICANCE

Originally released as a limited edition fans only cassette, "Insignificance" was made widely available when it was added as a bonus disc to the remastered "Signify" album. Here we have around 46 minutes of demos and unused songs from the "Signify" sessions (50 minutes if you have the original cassette, which also included "Door to the river" and "Insignificance", but excluded "Dark origins").

"Wake as a gun" is split into two sections; these book-ended one side of the original cassette. Steve Wilson explains that he always envisaged this acoustic number as forming part of something bigger, but as he never found a suitable home for it, it remained unused.

"Hallogallo" is a cover of the Neu! song of that name, included to demonstrate how the title track of "Signify" (which immediately follows) came about. This version of "Hallogallo" will be of interest to those who appreciate the Krautrock of Neu! and Kraftwerk, the track swimming in synths and sundry floating sounds. As the bass rhythm becomes more emphatic, the reason for the transition into "Signify" becomes apparent.

The version of "Waiting", a track which made it onto "Signify", included here is Wilson's first demo of the song. This version (of part 1) is interesting, as it demonstrates how complete Wilson's vision was for a song before he presented it even in demo form. This could well have been the version which made it onto the album (minus the rather irritating taps on the drainpipe!)

"Smiling not smiling" is a completed song which was omitted from "Signify". It is actually a rather twee, pop like number which would not have sat well on the album. "Neural rust" is a dreamy instrumental which later appeared as a single B side entitled "The sound of no one listening". "Dark origins", which was not included on the cassette version, is an early version of the final track on "Signify", "Dark matter". This track replaces "Door to the river" and "Insignificance" on the CD version, as those tracks were subsequently included on "Metanoia" (q.v.).

"Sever tomorrow" is a demo of the track simply titled "Sever" on "Signify". Once again, this version could well have been the one which was included on that album, such is its completeness. It is slightly slower than the final version, but as a demo it is highly satisfactory.

The album closes with an acoustic rendition of "Nine cats", a song which was included on the band's first album. It is a Wilson solo number, this version illustrating the way he performed it a couple of times at live gigs.

In all, a fine collection of hidden treasures from the Porcupine Tree archives. Fans of the band will find the demos of familiar songs and the collection of unheard material interesting. Those who are new to the band, and who acquire the double CD version of "Signify" will find they have a fine double album.

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