THE OVERVIEW

Steven Wilson is the man behind at least five or six of the greatest prog records of all time. He's also responsible for remastering tons of classic prog albums, and his name on a remaster is a guarantee of great sound and deep knowledge.

But Steven doesn't like being confined to a single style. Over time, he has grown to resent being associated with the prog world?despite the fact that he makes a living from it. Unfortunately, there are also fans who keep buying his records, hoping for another Hand. Cannot. Erase. or The Raven That Refused to Sing. But this is not that. Once again, we come up empty-handed in our search for a better Steven, while the musician who refuses to be pigeonholed claims another victory.

It's not that I want my money back or that I think he should stop making music. I've always appreciated music that evolves, that mutates into something unique. But not this time. This album is a step backward? a leap into the void. It feels like an artist trying to disappear behind a mask or throwing a smoke bomb to obscure himself. Now, it's obvious why he lost the musical "armor" that once surrounded him?like Brian Wilson with the Wrecking Crew, Steven Wilson was always backed by incredible musicians. But now he stands alone, exposed, revealing a mediocrity that borders on amateurish.

The Overview (2025) promised something different?two long, epic tracks. Musically, it was supposed to mark a return to Wilson's progressive rock roots, drawing inspiration from Pink Floyd, Tangerine Dream, and Vangelis. The first track, "Objects Outlive Us," leans towards classic rock with dynamic shifts and intricate arrangements, while the title track, "The Overview," delves into ambient electronica, reflecting on humanity's place in the cosmos. That all sounds great on paper.

In practice? It's another exercise in self-indulgence. The compositions feel bloated, ideas meander with no real payoff, and the album never quite justifies its length. There are moments of beauty?Wilson has always been a master of atmosphere?but they're lost in a structure that feels more like a series of experiments than a cohesive artistic statement. Collaborators include keyboardist Adam Holzman, guitarist Randy McStine, and drummer Craig Blundell, but even they can't inject enough life into this to save it. Wilson's wife, Rotem, narrates parts of the title track, and Andy Partridge of XTC co-wrote some of the lyrics, but none of that stops this album from feeling like a hollow shell of what it could have been.

The great production the mix is almost perfect despite the fact that the second song it is a bit bored the record deserves a listen and a better place this year

3.5 out of 5

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