Podcast 119 - Porcupine Tree

[@swayamtailor]

Please please let's have a petition for porcupine tree to do one more tour.

[@XiyuYang]

Yes but no. That band is gone and I'm fine with it, I miss it, but that's ok.

[@feirceraven1249]

@@XiyuYang I didn't realize that they had disbanded. Either that or I forgot. I guess I didn't pay enough attention. Actually, I think I did realize that a while ago, but forgot. Yeah, another tour would be cool, as long as they actually want to do one more tour.

[@barrettKiwi]

Yeah, I don't even want new music I just want to see them perform their songs live at least once in my life :( I saw Steven Wilson a couple years ago, he played a few tracks which were incredible but would be amazing to see the whole band.

[@pure666metal9]

NO, let's have a petition to stop people asking for another tour/album or any kind of reformation.

[@swayamtailor]

@@pure666metal9 man I don't even want them to release new music. I just wish to see them live, once in my life. I turned 19 2 months ago, I was too young when the band was in their prime to have had the opportunity to go to a concert, I'm from india. I just wish to see them live, once. Before I die.

[@fipillo4658]

We want Fear of a Blank Planet on spotify. This album was already perfect

[@rushxanthemtcg5607]

It's on spotify

[@fipillo4658]

@@rushxanthemtcg5607 sadly only the live version

[@carlosabeltramedebarros5240]

Buy it...

[@carlosabeltramedebarros5240]

Buy it

[@vladimirstanescu6616]

@@fipillo4658 The live version is the best.

[@jackcollis4138]

Only discovered this band a year or two ago, have been utterly obsessed ever since. A chance to see them live just once would make my life. Beautiful and inspiring music

[@user-kb1pj7iu6j]

I saw Steven Wilson live and it was pretty good, they covered quite a few porcupine tree songs. But pretty much same boat. Got into them only 3 or 4 years ago.

[@JoshuaJBlenman]

Steven Wilson's solo stuff is really great! I think the highlight albums are The Raven that Refused to Sing, and Hand. Cannot. Erase. The other albums are also good, but Raven and HCE are truly great albums all the way through. His latest though is not my favorite. I like it, and there are some great tracks on it, but I think it lacked something the other albums had. Granted, one of my top 3 favorite songs by SW (not PT) is on that album (which is Song of Unborn). For the sake of mentioning, the other two are No Twilight within The Courts of the Sun, and Ancestral. ...also worth mentioning, No Twilight is one of my favorites, not because of Steven, but Gavin. When ever anyone asks me what I love about drums, I put that song on. That is REALLY saying something, because I'm a huge Tool fan, and any self respecting drummer knows that Danny Carey is one of the best drummers on the planet. That said, for No Twilight, the drumming on that song is remarkable, well thought out, technical and creative. That song proves that Gavin Harrison is a musical genius (IMO). On that note, while I'm on this horrible tangent, I'm going to take the opportunity to say something that I've never really said before. As much as I love Marco Minnemann's work with Steven Wilson, I personally don't like his take on No Twilight within The Courts of the Sun when they play it live.To me it's like taking a very well distilled delicious cognac, then pouring a bunch of Diet Pepsi into it. this maybe an unpopular opinion, but there it is. I understand that I just insulted a great musician, and I hope he doesn't read that, because his work on The Raven and HCE is amazing, and love every hit on his kit though out the album. It's just that one song when they play it live. Sorry for digressing. Back to the topic on hand; yes, I do very much hope that PT writes a new album. I think after this much time apart, the potential for some amazing work to come out of them is very high. I disagree about "The Incident" being a bad album to go out on, because I love that album as well.

[@CaneSugarHD]

I also missed my chance to see them live unfortunately

[@SuppersReady8880]

I'm pushing 60, and frankly I don't know how I would have gotten through the last 10 or 15 years unless I had discovered Porcupine Tree and Steven on "Radio Paradise", a cool eclectic web radio station. They don't call him "the Savior of ProgRock" for nothing, no disrespect intended to talented bands like Riverside, Tool, Marillon, Spock's Beard, etc. (many). I've been consistently amazed by Steven Wilson's creativity, artistic breadth, and his ability to partner with other top players, from the PT lineups to his recent Royal Albert Hall crew ("concert of the year" was the buzz in England). Glad to hear your voyage of discovery. My favorite song is "Dark Matter". I really like some cuts off "To the Bone" too.

[@SuppersReady8880]

@@JoshuaJBlenman Agree, "Song of Unborn" is pretty epic, top five SW/PT overall for me too.

[@Summer4ever973.]

Stevesmovedon

[@thismanfr]

Omg that hit so hard, i feel bad for him though, all those people bothering about the same group that limited his creationism

[@Summer4ever973.]

Hypər98 perhaps you are right. But that was one hell of a band.

[@thismanfr]

@@Summer4ever973. your right, i wonder though, if they didnt have such different tastes then would they be the next beatles? Bte my favorite song is mellowtron scratch wby?

[@Summer4ever973.]

Hypər98 yea, I love that song, especially his it changes direction at the end. My favorite is probably Fadeaway. Gets me high, no drugs needed.

[@rishabhsinghsolanki8375]

Porcupine Tree 💙 must reunite!

[@ShiivaWilding]

Just watched the documentary with the book, loved it despite the melancholy of never getting to see them live.

[@andrewthomas3270]

I’ve not watched my Blu Ray yet but I have ripped the Music Files and put them onto my Astell and Kern DAP ready to hear all the Wonderful Sonics. 😊 Fantastic Book as well. Fingers Crossed everyone that SW decides at sometime to write another PT album and we can get to clap along to Trains as the Encore just one last time. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@ShiivaWilding]

@Salvador Diaz del Valle Santana England to be specific, so a little easier to get to than the rest of the UK. Got mine three days ago.

[@zanekiefer5128]

ShiivaWilding Is there any chance I could get a download of that documentary? I can’t find it anywhere and I really have been wanting to watch that for months

[@ShiivaWilding]

@@zanekiefer5128 I actually don't own any technology for burning blu-ray, only standard dvd via the cheapest external drive I could find. Didn't even realise it was a blu-ray until I tried to play it via my drive and couldn't!

[@Snoodler69]

THis is from Burning Shed - Hi, Thanks very much for buying this deluxe edition of one of PT’s classic albums from us. We have been made aware of an unfortunate mistake on the Blu-ray disc. It should have included the audio from CD2 in high resolution (24/96) but those tracks/files are not there. Obviously we are eager for you to have a complete Blu-Ray disc but this is going to take a few weeks as a new master and manufacturing will take time. The “good” part is that you don’t have to do anything. We will automatically send a replacement Blu-ray to everyone who has bought this from us. Kscope are sorry for this mishap but please rest assured it will all be ok - you’re in good hands. We will email you again when the discs are about to be shipped. Please note that all replacement discs will be sent by standard mail without tracking. We won’t be sending any discs by courier. Anyone who bought the deluxe edition from other sellers will need to contact Kscope directly about getting a replacement disc. Watch their social media accounts for more information.

[@anurag750]

Please we want more content of Porcupine Tree. Anything and everything.

[@thegameslave2]

I wish Steven Wilson didn't think playing Porcupine Tree would be a step backwards. I feel like that's a tad close minded of him, for being such a progressive player. This band still has a lot to give. But, I understand him moving on, considering how long this band went. Maybe one day he'll get that itch.

[@Valspartame_Maelstrom]

how do you know what the band has left to give?

[@FireMunki63]

He plays plenty of Porcupine tree tracks on his solo tours. He decided to go solo because he wanted to write for him instead of finding compromises and/or writing for others. We got magnificent albums like Raven and Hand.Cannot.Erase. I am sure that when he is ready there might be a reunion tour but I would doubt an album.

[@RasheedKhan-bm8fm]

The reason playing Porcupine Tree would have been a step backwards is actually true. The last four albums they made before vanishing hopefully temporarily into the void (In Absentia, Deadwing, Fear, The Incident + EPs like Nil Recurring) all followed the same musical pattern to the point where, to be honest, it was getting kind of stagnant (not that I dislike any of the albums of course, used to listen to them on a fairly regular basis); and if there's one thing that Steven isn't, it's stagnating. Dude always mixes up his genres and compositions, so I can understand why Porcupine Tree must have felt like going steps backwards; with the path he took, he made (imo) nearly better stuff with his solo work, and more varied too. Plus, this way, I think, if he ever goes back to PT, it's gonna be for a good reason and they're gonna make some absolutely gorgeous shit.

[@davidoflazarus4601]

TheGameSlave2 people forget porcupine tree was a solo project it was never meant to be a band he wants to just move on do his thing everything different every time I like that change every release as long as he is doing music I’m happy.

[@biorythmicshifter]

I love all their music...exceptional band.

[@chrisdavies73]

I was lucky enough to catch them in Manchester on The Incident tour. Great sounds from four guys.

[@Eleventhearlofmars]

Wasn’t there five when they played live? John Wesley helped out on guitars and vocals.

[@brunostudley2191]

My new favourite band, gutted I never heard of them years ago! Awesome Live

[@therickster1389]

Please do another tour. I'm a musician and I know the kind of magic that pours out of them on stage isn't something that happens with every band. It's got to be something they all want to feel again.

[@DaJesta088]

A reunion in the next 3-4 years wouldn't shock me at ALL... Steven's probed a lot of different genres with Insurgentes being wonderful, but seeming a bit disjointed theme-wise, then getting into a groove with Grace, Raven and H.C.E. To The Bone had great songs but definitely a lot like Insurgentes as far as feeling less focused. He may be coming to a point where working with Colin, Gavin and Richard (And John Wesley PLEASE) could help him regain some focus. I would LOVE to see them ramp things back up after 15 or so years apart to see what magic they could create.

[@MeandererMusicophile]

Nostalgia!!!!! Reunion a Must!!!!

[@joeybenoit6269]

I've been listening to you since signify! I often would play signify on my radio station!

[@drummerjeroensimons]

Great podcast guys!!! Cheers from The Netherlands, Jeroen Simons, Independent, ex - Epica.

[@mpactdesignmedia]

Who else always whispers the lyric at 12:10 every time they hear it?

[@xcforce9067]

I sing along.

[@vernonpurdue928]

One of the best live bands I’ve ever seen.

[@FireMunki63]

I like Richard's brutal honesty, The Incident was our best album and the tour wasn't the best tour to go out on. So true. That's why I personally would love to see a great tour with a recorded record of the event that really shows Porcupine Tree doing it big i.e. Royal Albert Hall or somewhere better even as not a fan of RAH.

[@garanceadrosehn9691]

There are several songs on "The Incident" which I like a lot, but I'd almost say that for me it's the worst album released under the name of Porcupine Tree. I haven't played it in at least five years, maybe not for ten. And that's one of the reasons that I don't want to push for a new album or tour. I think Steven really wanted to go solo after Deadwing, but he didn't have the nerve to. FoaBP was pretty good, but by the time of "The Incident" he simply didn't want to work as part of a band anymore. We might be able to get a good live album if they toured on the old songs, but I doubt we'd get a good studio album. Both Gavin and Colin are doing a lot of good music with various combinations of artists, and I see no reason to interrupt that work to try and resurrect a band from 15 years ago. And I (personally) would buy anything that Richard works on, but he seems to be content to stay out of the spotlight.

[@arsonne]

Garance A Drosehn I personally feel FoABP is the best thing Porcupine Tree or Steven Wilson for that matter ever did.

[@garanceadrosehn9691]

@@arsonne Sorry. I didn't mean to sound dismissive of FoaBP. I'm just saying that I suspect that Steven wanted to go solo by the time PTree was working on that album. I personally think that Deadwing is a better album, but I also think FoaBP would be a good choice for second-best. And it wouldn't surprise me at all if other people prefer FoaBP. The album which I think is a real downturn is "The Incident". It seemed like a good premise for an album, but the result (IMO) wasn't all that great. For me the (minor) downsides of FoaBP is that it *should* have been titled "Fear of a Blank Culture". The issues talked about in that album are not happening all over the planet. I think he went with "Fear of a Blank Planet" just to generate a little controversy. I also think it was kinda pointless that he combined what were obviously three different songs into "Anesthetize". For something like ten years he had been insisting that he didn't want to be pigeon-holed as a "Progressive Rock" group, and then this album comes out and he talks about Anesthetize as the "17-minute progressive rock blowout". And in some interviews I saw at the time, there seemed to be a sarcastic edge to his voice when he'd say that. I'll also add that I think "Nil Recurring" (the extra songs from FoaBP) is an excellent set of songs. Nothing at all wrong with them, IMO! I also saw Porcupine Tree in concert for this tour, and the videos that went along with the songs for FoaBP were excellent. I liked the album much more after seeing the videos for "Way Out of Here" and "Sleep Together".

[@arsonne]

@@garanceadrosehn9691 Well, Fear of a Blank Planet is titled as such because it is a reference to the album " Fear of a Black Planet " by Public Enemy, which he considers a very important record for his generation. As far as the rest I can agree, other than Anesthetize. I don't think there's anything wrong with the song having three "acts" and being completely different and seperate sections. I don't think any of the three portions stand on their own and parts don't have to directly defer to and reference one another, nor be completely cohesive in order to be a complete song and fit together perfectly. Lots of songs do this, as well as other art forms. Just my take on it. Imo that's one of the best prog songs ever. The Incident is definitely weak. It's a shame too because there's so many great snippets. I think the title track is pretty good. I think The Blind House, Octane Twisted, The Seance, I Drive the Hearse and Bonnie the Cat are all solid cuts. Time Flies would have been great as a 5 minute song. Others like Remember Me Lover aren't too bad but have no edge and sound like Blackfield songs.. and then Kneel and Disconnect, Drawing the Line, etc are just bad.

[@garanceadrosehn9691]

@@arsonne Well, I know where the title comes from. In fact, that's what I meant by "generate a little controversy". When a white progressive-rock group names their new album after a landmark album by the hip-hop group Public Enemy, they're doing it for shock value. Not as a tribute. It's not like FoaBP was a hip-hop album, or had *anything* to do with race relations or any of the other hot-button topics in "Fear of a Black Planet". "Fear of a Black Planet" isn't just a landmark album, it was a *controversial* landmark album. Anyone who was paying even *slight* attention to PTree in 2007 knows why he choose that title for the album, because every single interview with him included questions about "Why did you name this new album after that other super-famous album?". So at least 10% of the interview is talking about the title and about "Fear of a Black Planet", instead of talking about the songs and the themes on PTree's new album. I do agree that "The Incident" has some great parts. But we both agree that it's still pretty weak compared to the albums which came before it!

[@PrisonTorture34]

Pretty cool y'all! Great song by Iamthemorning singer

[@ZeeKat]

I still hope one day they'll publish the footage of Richard doing secret agent impressions while recording "Neural Rust". Maybe for the 30th anniversary Signify reissue.

[@PCmaatje]

Very much enjoyed this podcast! It was my first listen to any Kscope podcast, but defo not my last!

[@possiblefossilrecords]

One of the best prog albums of all time. I'd put it up there with Court of the Crimson King, Roundabout and Dark Side of the Moon.

[@sidnew2739]

Roundabout? Do you mean "Fragile" from Yes?

[@The1970cesar]

Grandiosos Porcupine Tree.

[@joeybenoit6269]

Oh the Summers keeps slipping away!

[@arsonne]

As much as it sucks to not get to see Porcupine Tree live anymore, it’s pretty obvious he has less than zero interest in going back to it. He feels that he would have to do something a more rock/metal direction... which is ridiculous but it seems to be how he feels. Even though he will still do other projects he seems to be ACTIVELY trying to distance himself from Porcupine Tree. To be honest though, Raven and Hand Cannot Erase were every bit as good as most Porcupine Tree stuff. Without Guthrie and Marco, though, I’m not sure that will continue. Steve will always surround himself with competent players but the magic of special, incredible musicians like Gavin Harrison and Guthrie are what he needs to be at the very top of his game. I really only come back to Refuge and a few other tracks on To the Bone.

[@BassGoBomb]

Ah ... A comment I can agree with .. a balanced and informed opinion ... weird ... lol

[@raissaqueirozz]

Amo

[@bernlin2000]

PT is Steven's best work...I know he's sold more on his solo stuff, but PT was the pinnacle. I respect an artist who wants to look forward, but I believe you can enjoy good music (with a good band) without having to stay stuck in one place.

[@Sashphoenix]

Hmm...I think he has created some incredible pieces as a solo artist (although I am not too keen on much of his most recent album, most of which is not to my taste).

[@kenlee5015]

I respect that he, SW has such varied tastes and wants to showcase all of them. PT is def my fav, but I love his solo work, Blackfield, and his collabs.

[@Sashphoenix]

Ken Lee ah yes, Blackfield ❤️ I love Storm Corrosion too, and some of No Man

[@Jakerlund]

A fantastic podcast!!! Please have a petition to be able to buy this box as a digital download (and other blue-rays/live shows). I store all music and music video on my NAS and find it unnecessary to physically ship the box just so i can rip it all and put on my server and never use the disks again. This album is epic and needs to be on my server ;-) I don't even know where my DVD player is anymore, that how much i use disks these days.

[@joeybenoit6269]

Mr. Wilson your next project should be called antidote!!!

[@ROMMELEDGE]

Porfavor saquen a steven wilson del maldito pop y hagan que esta maravilla se reúna!!

[@Snoodler69]

So who do we speak to about replacing the screwed up Blurays from the new Porcupine tree In Absentia Box? Grrrr

[@pure666metal9]

A huge clue here Kscope.

[@Sashphoenix]

Chill, man. You still have three wonderful CDs to listen to whilst you’re waiting for KScope to put the matter right. Mistakes happen.

[@crisz7690]

Cuando me preguntan x un ejemplo de belleza musical .....

[@ogulcanyolcu8714]

Sleep together once more with the band Stevie.

[@JoystickJourneys-u5l]

i love

[@brianpercival1829]

How about a reunion album and tour?

[@MaryChrisMaryCdiliapo]

🦋❤️🦋❤️🦋❤️🎶🙃😘

[@christopherlevillain3860]

I think "The Incident" is one of their best album and I don't understand why they think the opposite

[@stuartmiller7419]

I think sometimes a band's opinion of a previous album of theirs can be coloured by the experiences they had whilst making it, which is independant of the quality of the music they produced. A bit like a song that reminds you of a period or a person that brings pain. It's not the song's fault. Just how it is.

[@jamesfink9658]

When Steven says it's a step backwards don't forget a big part of that is money. It is no secret he was the songwriter despite songs being credited to all of them. Now, Steven still writes the songs and can pay people to go into the studio or on tour with him as needed. He gets all the songwriting royalties to himself. You know darn well that the money he pays to people now is far less than what was paid to the members of Porcupine Tree and if he offered them the same money he is offering to the people he has now the members of Porcupine Tree would never take it.

[@MetalDecibelTeen]

He did not write the drum parts, for example I have the impression that when you say the problem is linked to money and that he had to pay all the pt members for what he wrote, it is like they did not deserve/had to be paid for that Even if you did not say that and that is seemed to be written in a neutral way, your comment carries this feeling for me As if, you are justifying why Steven stopped pt

[@mackermaldrill2656]

@@MetalDecibelTeen That's not the way it works. Credit on a song can be given for contributing a lyric or a riff/chord progression. Individual instrument parts are generally not a reason for giving someone a song writing credit. The majority of the songs were written by Wilson alone, but their were collaborations with other members such as on the song Start Of Something Beautiful with Harrison. At other times all member were given credit on a song such as on Halo from Deadwing.

[@jamesfink9658]

@@MetalDecibelTeen Of course he did not write every little drum fill but I bet he had a huge say in how the drums were played. And I think his solo stuff is just as good or better than PT and I bet he pays his revolving cast of supporting musicians a lot less.

[@jamesfink9658]

@@mackermaldrill2656 All of the Beatles songs not written by George Harrison are credited to Lennon.McCartney and everyone knows that there were very few songs they wrote together and most were exclusively one or the other. But, when it came to songwriting royalties they both got 50/50. No one knows what king of deal PT had but the fact that there were others on the writing credits for songs that were 90% written by Steven means he had to give up a lot in songwriting royalties whereas being solo it all goes to him.

[@sonicadv27]

The money angle would make sense if one forgot about the fact that possibly half his audience got to know him after PT stopped releasing music and a big chunk of that audience now listens to PT. When Porcupine Tree do another tour, because all bands get back together in the end with virtually no exception, it'll generate way more money than any other PT tour ever did, precisely because Steven's solo output has expanded PT's audience as well.

[@DekkarJr]

I'm dying of love, and it's okay! Such a beautiful sentiment. Like, it's okay to have sincere human emotions. IT'S OKAY!