Porcupine Tree - Recordings



1. Buying New Soul (10.24) 2. Access Denied (3.35) 3. Cure For Optimism (6.11) 4. Untitled (8.53) 5. Disappear (3.37) 6. Ambulance Chasing (6.32) 7. In Formaldehyde (5.19) 8. Even Less (full length version) (13.55) 9. Oceans Have No Memory (3.06)

Total Running Time: 59:72



During the last couple of months, Porcupine Tree has been quite busy dusting its shelves and organizing all those long-lost "recordings" that had piled up for years in its studio. The band seems fascinated with the concept of releasing all its work in neat compilation packages, like double CD retrospectives, Stars Die - The Delerium Years (1991-97), limited edition versions, Lightbulb Sun, and double-live albums still on the works. But for now, the most tempting release for all PT fans is, without a doubt, its most recent compilation, titled Recordings.

As its title suggests, this release showcases exactly that: B-sides, alternate versions of songs, experimental jams, raw musical sketches, and even two brilliant previously unreleased songs. Consequently, every song has its own individual identity, as opposed to the usual one-directional orientation present on most PT albums, but still, all tracks find a way of relating to each other with a striking resemblance in compositional approach and overall sound within the record. Actually, most of the songs were composed during the Stupid Dream and Lightbulb Sun era, offering an exceptionally mature songwriting approach that could be misinterpreted in the sense that Recordings envisions the next step in the band's evolution. But clearly, this release lacks the structure of an album and in no way attempts to force itself into those leagues, and, as PT wisely decided to emphasize with the title, Recordings serves only as a recapitulation of PT's latter musical phases.

With this aside, well, you know what to expect: Atmospheric passages plastered with psychedelic, trippy layers and excellent vocal melody lines, arranged in a commercially oriented package. "Buying New Soul" is by far the album's stand out, fitting this description perfectly. The band most likely realized this and chose to include "Untitled" ("Buying New Soul" in-the-making) to introduce the fans to the jam session roots of this amazing song. Other notable counterparts are the extended version of "Even Less," featuring an exciting experimental-jam interlude, and the Beatlesque "Access Denied," which makes use of every new production trick up Steven Wilson's sleeve, covering every imaginable mood through uncountable atmospheric layers, all held together with a prominent, commercial vocal melody heavily treated with processors. But going from track to track describing every last detail will only snatch away the thrill of listening to a surprising record, so let's just say that you won't be disappointed, and leave it at that.

All through Porcupine Tree's career, the band has never ceased to amaze me, and Recordings clearly reminds me of the reasons why. Every individual composition has all the right elements put into play, always captivating the listener with phenomenal melodies and majestic soundscapes. Few groups can manage to release all their 'left-over' tracks and come up with a respectful record, but when PT attempts it, not only does it come up with a worthy offering, but with a landmark statement.

-by Javier Elizondo

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