HAND. CANNOT. ERASE.

Steven Wilson is modern Progressive Rock's figurehead with a spirited work ethic. A singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and four time Grammy nominated surround-sound genius, he has influenced Prog's steady resurgence worldwide the past 25 years. A master in the studio, he remixed (with permission of the bands) the great classic Prog albums by King Crimson, Yes, Jethro Tull, ELP and many others but his own discography guarantees his place among the greatest of Prog legends.

Hand. Cannot. Erase. is a modern concept album inspired by the compelling real life story of a young, popular, attractive London woman who dies in her apartment and is not found for three years. The music and narrative are powerful, heartfelt, and immersive. Highly creative compositions that are atmospheric, elaborate and multidimensional as well as complex pop/rock tunes deliver Wilson's hallmark time-signature changes from melodic to metal to symphonic. This is the Prog music that Prog artists aspire to create and the rest of us celebrate. Executed and performed with precision by Wilson on vocals and several instruments and his brilliant band that includes guitar virtuoso Guthrie Govan, Prog's best bassist Nick Beggs, former Miles Davis keyboardist Adam Holzman, ever present drummer Marco Minneman plus additional musicians, singers and orchestra, this is par excellence.

The tracks in order:

1 & 2) First Regret/Three Years Older segued together is an engaging and multifaceted arrangement 3) Hand Cannot Erase is melodic pop/rock 4) Perfect Life is a beautiful song with female spoken voice and electronic landscape 5) Routine has old school Prog time-signature changes, choir, orchestration, piano and Nanet Tayeb's Floydian vocal 6) Home Invasion is a heavy, catchy song with post-punk guitar riffs 7) Regret #9 is an instrumental with Moog and a guitar solo from heaven 8) Transience is understated emotion 9) Ancestral begins with haunting strings and flute followed by percussive guitar driven heavy metal 10 & 11) Happy Returns/Ascendant Here On... is a soulful end to the story.

Seamless from song to song. One of the top 10 Progressive Rock albums of all time. A masterpiece!

- JD, host of Closer to the Edge, AshevilleFM