VARIATIONS ON A DREAM

For years, I'd sort of put back further the discovery of PT (no, not Porc Tree ;o))), fearing what I'd understood was a typical neo-prog group, something reinforced by its "belonging" on the UK specialized label of Cyclops, and even more, their Vulgar Unicorn antecedents, potentially the worst "prog band ever". So when I chanced upon their Cds in my library system, I took the opportunity and rented both albums available. The Soord brothers would apparently head this band, but I believe it's mostly Bruce than Adrian, the same way it was John Fogerty and not Tom that headed CCR. The usual prog quartet is without surprise, but very tight, each member holding their own at their respective instruments, as shown in the instrumental Resident Aliens.

With 03's "Variation of a dream" (PT's third album I believe , I was a bit surprised not to find the usual Marillion-esque cliché (although there are a few moments clearly headed that way too. So I found something rather different than M-IQ clones but also a bit the other neo-prog cliché (more recent), but the Radiohead-derived neo-prog, also looking at shorter (this is relative of course to some of the cannons) poppier songs, almost making you think of the 90's Britpop. And this is really evident not only in the whinny vocals and the songwriting

Don't get me wrong, there are some really good moments (such as the cello/violin in the final 16- mins "epic" Remember Us), and PT is nowhere insufferable as was VU, but the clichés and "borrowings" are plentiful, even if impeccably played. I suspect this type of album ravishes the neo-progheads, and I can easily see why. This album comes with a second disc (this time the black blot becomes a silver- coloured foetus) filled with tracks presented under the 8 Days title, but we have absolutely no information, even down the track's names, but the general direction of the music is somewhat a bit different. I'd say that the musical propos is definitely more instrumental and with a wider scope, ranging from the same Britpop to some hints of post rock,

Certainly not my cup of tea, PT's VoaD is probably one of the more interesting things coming out of the Cyclops catalogue, but then again, my general opinion on this prog current is not very significant, since I'm generally known for not being a fan of neo-prog.

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