THE SKY MOVES SIDEWAYS

Factually, it's absolutely correct: "The Sky Moves Sideways" from 1995 is the third album by Porcupine Tree. However, there's a small caveat. In its early years, Porcupine Tree was nothing more or less than a pseudonym for Steven Wilson. It's only with "The Sky Moves Sideways" that Porcupine Tree began to profile itself as a band, and since the album was also released in the United States, it had all the potential to be a breakthrough record. The music certainly has that vibe, creative, inventive, virtuosic, and extraordinarily captivating. You are constantly drawn in by the genius charms of the sounds.

Porcupine Tree unabashedly makes psychedelic music, with plenty of Pink Floyd influences. The question then quickly arises: is that a bad thing? Well, no. I am convinced that if Pink Floyd and Porcupine Tree had swapped places, Wilson and his associates would have been highly successful in the 1970s as well.

The album has the same structure as Pink Floyd's 1975 "Wish You Were Here." We hear a long epic divided into two parts, with one section at the beginning of the album and another at the end. Personally, I enjoy music with this rounded form. Despite "The Sky Moves Sideways" being released in different versions, this structure remains consistent. The version discussed here is the 2004 remaster, chosen because it includes a very interesting bonus CD. Without further ado, let's get into the content.

Phase 1 of the title track begins in a dreamy manner. After a few minutes, as the dynamics increase with vocals and guitar, we hear a relaxed Porcupine Tree. This is the prelude to a stunning piece of psychedelia, complete with a hypnotically swinging rhythm and maddening guitar and keyboard work, supported by excellent bass guitar. The 18- minute tour de force concludes calmly with, among other things, plucked acoustic guitar. In the subsequent tracks Dislocated Day and The Moon Touches Your Shoulder, the computer drums have been replaced by real drums played by Gavin Harrison. This greatly enhances the Middle Eastern atmosphere of the riffs in Dislocated Day, and also benefits the beautiful The Moon Touches Your Shoulder, which starts quietly and ends in a rousing manner. Prepare Yourself is a short instrumental interlude that paves the way for Phase 2 of the title track. Here, the world truly turns upside down, especially in the second subtitle Off the Map, where Wilson launches the most awe-inspiring sounds into space during his solo. This is absolute world-class music, if not more.

On the bonus CD, we first have a 34-minute alternate mix of the title track where both phases are combined. The ingenuity here is evident. Stars Die is one of the most beautiful songs Wilson has ever written, with a delightful Blackfield vibe. Moonloop is another typical Porcupine Tree track with its improvised character. It's rather unfortunate that this track had to be moved from the main album to the bonus CD. Beyond this, I have no criticism of Steven Wilson.

Factually, it's absolutely correct: "The Sky Moves Sideways" from 1995 is the third album by Porcupine Tree. However, there's a small caveat. In its early years, Porcupine Tree was nothing more or less than a pseudonym for Steven Wilson. It's only with "The Sky Moves Sideways" that Porcupine Tree began to profile itself as a band, and since the album was also released in the United States, it had all the potential to be a breakthrough record. The music certainly has that vibe, creative, inventive, virtuosic, and extraordinarily captivating. You are constantly drawn in by the genius charms of the sounds.

Porcupine Tree unabashedly makes psychedelic music, with plenty of Pink Floyd influences. The question then quickly arises: is that a bad thing? Well, no. I am convinced that if Pink Floyd and Porcupine Tree had swapped places, Wilson and his associates would have been highly successful in the 1970s as well.

The album has the same structure as Pink Floyd's 1975 "Wish You Were Here." We hear a long epic divided into two parts, with one section at the beginning of the album and another at the end. Personally, I enjoy music with this rounded form. Despite "The Sky Moves Sideways" being released in different versions, this structure remains consistent. The version discussed here is the 2004 remaster, chosen because it includes a very interesting bonus CD. Without further ado, let's get into the content.

Phase 1 of the title track begins in a dreamy manner. After a few minutes, as the dynamics increase with vocals and guitar, we hear a relaxed Porcupine Tree. This is the prelude to a stunning piece of psychedelia, complete with a hypnotically swinging rhythm and maddening guitar and keyboard work, supported by excellent bass guitar. The 18- minute tour de force concludes calmly with, among other things, plucked acoustic guitar. In the subsequent tracks Dislocated Day and The Moon Touches Your Shoulder, the computer drums have been replaced by real drums played by Gavin Harrison. This greatly enhances the Middle Eastern atmosphere of the riffs in Dislocated Day, and also benefits the beautiful The Moon Touches Your Shoulder, which starts quietly and ends in a rousing manner. Prepare Yourself is a short instrumental interlude that paves the way for Phase 2 of the title track. Here, the world truly turns upside down, especially in the second subtitle Off the Map, where Wilson launches the most awe-inspiring sounds into space during his solo. This is absolute world-class music, if not more.

On the bonus CD, we first have a 34-minute alternate mix of the title track where both phases are combined. The ingenuity here is evident. Stars Die is one of the most beautiful songs Wilson has ever written, with a delightful Blackfield vibe. Moonloop is another typical Porcupine Tree track with its improvised character. It's rather unfortunate that this track had to be moved from the main album to the bonus CD. Beyond this, I have no criticism of Steven Wilson.

Whether "The Sky Moves Sideways" can be called a breakthrough album, I can't say for certain. However, the album certainly ensured that many music lovers began to embrace Porcupine Tree afterward.Whether "The Sky Moves Sideways" can be called a breakthrough album, I can't say for certain. However, the album certainly ensured that many music lovers began to embrace Porcupine Tree afterward.

Orginally posted on www.progenrock.com