VOYAGE 34 - THE COMPLETE TRIP

If I had to pick one 'modern' prog group that has really 'grabbed' me it would have to be Porcupine Tree. Someone sent me a sample once... happened to be Blackest Eyes off of In Absentia and I LOVED it. I was 'bit' not as much by the music, though really goood, as Steven Wilson's voice. Since then I have slowly worked on completing their discography. This album I bought instead of Warszawa, and I kicked myself later once I heard how good that was.. and of course.. I haven't seen it in a store since. So a quick review is in order for a modern prog giant.

A real pychedelic treat here is a 2004 edition of an earlier work from the early 90's. It's premise...hmm... lets let them explain it..

"This remarkable, sometimes, incoherent transcript illustrates a phatasamagoria of fear, terror, grief, exaltation, and finally breakdown. " In short a bad LSD trip.

The music, along with group of course at that time was obviously heavily influenced by Pink Floyd. You can here Van Der Graaf Generator in there as well. Listen closely and you can hear an homage to A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers in Phase 1. The album is full of many textures and moods and is a great album to just put on and vegetate to. You do not feel any need to ponder or consider.. in short like any psychedelic classic.. and I would consider this a modern one. You don't need to think.... only feel and experience. Very ambient. Phase 1 was my favorite and didn't really care much for Phase 3. All in all probably a bit of an acquired taste, but then again so is true psychedelia. I wouldn't start with this album in you are getting into Porcupine Tree... but fans of psychedelia should check it out and Procupine Tree fans should own it. 2.5 stars and will round to three since fans of psychedelic music might enjoy it and not just for Porcupine Tree fans.

Michael (aka micky)