ON THE SUNDAY OF LIFE...

Porcupine Tree

Heavy Prog

3.04 | 983 ratings

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karl1171

This is a good album, however it falls down in a few areas, so it would be unfair to give a 5 star rating

The biggest problem here is probably the inconsistency ? the album swings wildly from the sublime (Radioactive toy, It will rain for a million years), to the ridiculous (Linton Samuel Dawson). There are a number of good songs on here Nostalgia Factory, Nine cats, Footprints, Swallows Dance Above the Sun to name a few. I never really 'got' traks like Linton Samuel Dawson though ? even though they received so much adoration from the early fans, although having seen PT live a few times in the early 90's Steven Wilson always refused to play this song despite pleas from the audience. The high pitched vocal sounds great however on The Nostalgia Factory ? a rather poppy, but still great track which is beatifully built up to by the preceding tracks.

These build ups and soundscapes are one of the albums strengths ? while the production may be criticised in some reviews the sounds are skillfully created and blended and make for some moments of brilliance. Unfortunately the sound of the drum machine sometimes lets the overall sound down ? in some songs it just doesn't cut it ? I just wish they would remaster this album and add real drums as they did with Up the Downstair.

One of the strengths of PT is their use of dynamics; Radioactive toy and Footprints being good examples, introducing themselves quietly then suddenly blowing you away, then continuing to come and go.

Radioactive toy is one of my, and many PT fans favourites - Its radio voice vocal interspersed with the killer riff refrain, finally giving way to a breakdown and slowly building solo to end. I feel however that It Will Rain For A Million Years is a hugely underrated track. The alternate guitar and shakuhachi (lead synth) lines over the atmospheric synth string backgound create a fantastic hook.

Overall this is a worthwhile album to own. It's quite padded out with experimental tracks and extended fade outs, but if you can cope with these you'll be rewarded with some great songs.

karl1171 | 4/5 | 2011-12-14

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