METANOIA

This should not really be considered as a full "Porcupine Tree" album.It is made of mostly improvisation tracks. This might be OK for a while, but almost an hour of his treat is a bit too much. Less trippy than "Voyage 34" this "Mesmer" thing holds some pleasant moments. But it is repetitive and there is absolutely no melody. Just the start of an encounter with some space structure (but don't know of which type).

The whole sounds more as as a remix as anything else. Not too bad, but don't expect great stuff either. Ambient music. Not more. It is hard to be concentrated on this type of work (especially that I'm finalizing this review around 3 AM).

"Mesmer" stuff is clocking at twenty-eight minutes, while the "Metanoia" ones at twenty-five. Did you say long improvisations ?

This effort can only please die-hard "PT" fans . Well worth a listen on a rainy Winter afternoon when you have decided to have a rest and want to listen to some tranquil, quiet, and peaceful music. A good antidote to narcotics at the end of a busy week.

From time to time it works (at least with me). So, if you are in that mood one day, it might be interesting to play this album. But this is not an entry point in "PT" repertoire.

Standout tracks are "Mesmer III" and "Metanoia II.

Two stars.