IN ABSENTIA

I think I am preaching to the converted here given the number of reviews for this album and for this band at this site. However, this was the first Porcupine Tree album I got into, and fairly recently too - and I can't stop listening to it (and the others too). 'In Absentia' got me hooked into Porcupine Tree and and I'm buying up their catalogue at a rate of knots.

First off the progressive issue - - this album and other music I have heard by PT is not progressive in an experimental kind of way, i.e. it is not exploring difficult structural, compositional and virtuosic angles in the way that bands like King Crimson, Univers Zero, Zappa etc often do. - the album doesn't really explore extended length compositions like early Yes or Genesis - the music is mainly song based and has a lot in common with conventional rock/pop music.

So what is progressive about it? Well . . .

- it is quite spacey/atmospheric - it uses state of the art production - the arrangements have a finesse and creativity that most (almost all) pop/rock productions lack - the music can twist off into semi extended sections which use quirky time signatures or explore instrumental textures

Basically though, I am dumbfounded that this band is not a commercial supergroup. Prog or not, this album and the other PT albums I have heard demonstrate an impressive marriage of state of the art production and arrangement with peerless songwriting. They set the standard for what rock/pop albums can be. Hedonistically enjoyable ear candy - but also intellectually and emotionally satisfying.

On the negative side I'm not too keen on the instrumental 'Wedding Nails' and two songs towards the end of the CD - 'The Creator Has a Mastertape' and 'Strip the Soul'. But nothing is absolutely perfect . . . Aside from these three 7/10 tracks I give all the others a clear 10/10.

I think this is good place to start - but all the other albums I have heard by the band - 'Deadwing', 'Fear of a Blank Planet', 'Lightbulb Sun', 'Stupid Dream' etc etc are excellent too . . . .

Unequivocably recommended