Review: Steven Wilson 'The Harmony Codex' (art rock/pop/ambient/electronic)

[@tomwery1899]

This is definitely my favorite album of the year.Just a great record very different from the last one.

[@billgonzalezjr.4777]

Super surprised at your review but I respect your opinion. This is my favorite of his albums. I absolutely love it! I will say it took me many many listens. True grower. Can’t wait to see where he goes next.

[@lazarossamaras4427]

I find this to be a great sounding album and it is going to be in my top ten for 2023. Different atmospheres, great use of every instrument in order to create a whole. Better listen to it first.

[@jeffreyrobinson9120]

Thanks for the honest review. Steven Wilson is one of those artists who are constantly changing and moving forward. Always interesting to see what he comes up with.

[@WarhawkBeyond2040]

A very different Steven Wilson album to his previous solo recordings but a very enjoyable listening experience and a much stronger effort than The Future Bites, the songs are well written, Impossible Tightrope is the best track of the whole album and the production is outstanding. Absolutely love it. Great review as always

[@kostasmad1431]

This is a great album. For me his masterpiece is Hand cannot erase, for some other people is The Raven that refused to sing. This is in his top 3....

[@nickj3841]

I didn't check this album out until I saw this review and after a couple of listens I am really liking it. I wasn't expecting it to be this good.

[@eldorado852]

I have listened to this album more than any other new release of the year which is pretty surprising.

[@larsschneider2378]

I totally love the album, almost every song is stuck in my head constantly, I keep humming them all the time. The stuff you don't like are actually my favorites (Economies Of Scale, Beautiful Scarecrow, title track, Actual Brutal Facts). But that's how it works sometimes. :-) And I see where you're coming from. I personally never viewed SW as a prog or even rock musician per se. But if that's the stuff you love from him - not much of that on this record for sure. Thanks for the review!

[@yurivogensen5438]

I'm on the camp of those who love this album.

[@JohnMacRae23]

Beautiful album, i think it may not be his best, but it's a grower. Not everything needs to "rock" to be good. With me atmosphere is king, and Wilson brings that aspect in spades.

[@JasonSositko]

I love this album. Surprised you don't like Impossible Tightrope. Great track.

[@franckbizouard3357]

For me it's a masterpiece. I hated TFB, but this one grabs me on the first listen on my 5.1 audio system at home, full volume. Think you didn't got the spirit of the album, it grows on me each time I listen to it, love it more and more. Should listen to it without too many pre-conception and pre-judgement on "what should sound or produce Steven Wilson regarding his musical achievements till today". I wish you love it more one day ;-)

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

Trust me, the world's not going to end if I don't love the new Steven Wilson album...I'm glad people are enjoying it...but it's just not doing much for me overall.

[@Jamie.Laszlo]

I have a hard time getting through the whole thing in one sitting. It drags way too much in spots.

[@TMINE100]

The production is career best but the meandering nature reminds me of why I rarely play those early Porcupine Tree very much.

[@Fantomassexybeast]

@@TMINE100 The Sky Moves Sideays is one of my favorite PT albums, and it's much better than this..

[@sidnew2739]

​@@FantomassexybeastYou're obviously joking.

[@Fantomassexybeast]

Absolutey not. @@sidnew2739

[@oregonwoodelf]

I've noticed that when an album has a strong love/hate response early in it's release, it usually means it will age well over time. You can see this happen with other bands all across history. I think in 10-15 years, it will be hailed as one of his best. Lot of it isn't for me either, but I appreciate what he put together here✌🧝‍♂

[@sidnew2739]

For me it's already one of his best.

[@JoshAshConceptArt]

I feel this is an album i shouldnt like, but it really really grew on me. Big surprise for me. Its been fascinating watching all the polar opposite oppinions

[@miguelmelchior986]

What polar opposite opinions? the album is just very weak.

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

@@miguelmelchior986 there are plenty of people declaring this a modern classic...so yeah, lots of polar opposite opinions. People either love it or hate it.

[@miguelmelchior986]

@@seaoftranquilityprog ok lol

[@neugey]

This album is resonating with me more than the other Wilson solo albums! I guess modern prog is hit and miss with me, whereas the Thomas Dolby and Berlin-era Bowie and Eno vibe of Harmony Codex is more my thing. Go figure.

[@jeffp3517]

I did not care for it at first listen, However after a few more spins it has grown on me.

[@douglasweston126]

Hi Pete - well, based on the reviews I've read I thought I HAD to have a listen for myself. I dont have any Steve Wilson albums although obviously I am familiar with his remastering work with Tull etc etc etc and I've heard a few of his songs. So - I dont come to this album with any preconceived ideas of what it should sound like. Having just listened to it for the first time I have to say I quite enjoyed it, however I think the music on this album does require a fair degree of effort from the listener, and its not going to be understood in one or two listens either. I thought the album had a lovely consistent sound / feel to it, beautifully played and produced as you'd expect I guess. All I can say is on first listen I enjoyed it - am currently on my second listen. He's a talented lad thats for sure. Cheers Doug

[@guillermomaldonado6277]

As technically brilliant as this is, it didn't grab me at all. Not at all what I was expecting Thanks! 🍺🤘

[@garyjoyce2160]

Two and half spins in/ definitely need more. I guess ?👍💯

[@srobbins1973]

Good album not as good as the last PT album but much better than the last two solo albums thanks for posting Pete!

[@andrewflescher9266]

I checked every day for two weeks for your review. Please listen to Staircase again twice. Once with the lights off on your best system and once with the lyrics in front of you. It's one of his best ever. I like the album a lot but agree with you that he is at his best when he is making music on a team, with a proper band, ie Porcupine Tree!

[@stephenbaumgartner4197]

Very fair assessment Pete. Steven is really recording music to utilize Dolby Atmos at this point… and that’s likely the driver as to where he is musically and what he’s doing now. I enjoyed the album for the most part, and found the last track, Staircase, to be brilliant.. But lots of space during the album that was just kinda ‘downtime’. Although sonically, if immersed in a proper sound system, would likely have been more intriguing. As always, will be interesting to see where he goes next.

[@SomeSong2]

Steven Wilson seems to have perfected the art of pissing off his core audience each time someone asks him about prog or what he thinks of pop, or downloads, or money, or products, or anything in general.

[@miguelmelchior986]

That again? The album is just weak, its not even about the whatever whatever suposed to sound like bs..

[@chrispicha]

Best SW album since HCE, easy. Absolutely love it, but it is a grower!

[@briancox8518]

I think it's excellent Impossible tightrope is awesome

[@UFO1601]

I think Steven Wilson has become too self-indulgent Pete. This album must have cost him a fortune to put together with all these musicians playing on it, and I don't think the overall results warrant it. I love Porcupine Tree but some of his solo albums leave me cold.

[@joegrinvalsky7222]

Fair assessment. I only appreciate 4 tracks (just not the same 4) and I have been a fervent follower since 1993. As challenging as it is; it is meant to be heard in one listen. 65 minutes makes that a true marathon. Production and engineering are impressive, the music just doesn't match those values.

[@andysalbums]

I think this is a superb album. My favourite of the year so far. I bought it on vinyl and Blu-ray. As good as the stereo mix is, the Atmos is simply stunning. Side A - the first three tracks - is the weakest. It really takes off on sides B and C. Rock Bottom is the stand-out for me along with the title track. Actual Brutal Facts I really like. The vocals are reminiscent of Massive Attack. Staircase, the closer, is immense. I love the way it morphs into Vangelisesque synths before going out with a reprise of Rotem's spoken word from the title track. Wilson is on record saying that his primary focus was Atmos and he has absolutely nailed it. You really do need to hear this in one of the surround formats. So good

[@stewartmack4821]

Wilson ranking please with Steven Reid

[@Baz63]

He has gone too left field for my taste. Love the 2 extended tracks 'Impossible Tightrope' and 'Staircase' but otherwise the album feels all over the place but no doubt Steven is a massive talent.

[@briancox8518]

Pete you have to listen to it a few times and it will grow on you

[@danductor6729]

I do respect your honest review. For me, it’s perhaps his most personal and heartfelt album. Beautifully recorded. I love the longer ambient pieces. I do not mind the use of electronic drums and beats. I know some folks want to hear another proper prog album, but for my ears, this is a great album. I give it 4.5 out of 5.

[@griefforest1870]

I listened to his pop efforts of the last decade and wasn´t that impressed. I dig this album, his best one since The Raven imo. I´d rather listen to the last PT album, but I think the marriage of pop and prog is quite good here.

[@timbass1313]

I feel like Steven Wilson is getting his Pink Floyd on in several of the tracks, and my first impression of the album was kind of 'meh,; but the album is starting to grow on me. I had the same thing happen with "The Future Bites" too. This might be an album that you revisit in a couple months and see where you are with it.

[@LightBeamer777]

Yeah Pete! It's good to see you don't give this the fan boy treatment, and just love anything SW does like some people do. My take on this is very similar to yours. I also like four songs. They may not be the same four as yours though. I like Impossible Tightrope, Rock Bottom, Staircase, and What Life Brings. The rest I can do without. I hate the title track, The Harmony Codex. That song sounds like it belongs on the Storm Corrosion disc, which I hated. Several of the songs that I don't like, just drone on and on repetitively in the rhythm section, and I just don't like that. I have no problem with long songs, as a matter of fact I love them, but they have to be good prog songs. I will not be buying this disc as I didn't The Future Bites. SW has left me behind with the direction he is taking his music.

[@amarjitsinghdulay1890]

Hi I appreciate everybody to their own but I am one of those fan boys you refer to but I'm not apologetic about it as I do really like most of what SW has created in all his outputs including the Storm Corrosion album. I loved his TFB album as well as I do his current album THC. I'll be honest and say that his last two offerings TFB and THC both took many listenings for some of the songs to grow on me and there were times when I was questioning what SW was doing with some of his pieces but with more plays everything has fallen in place. Remember there were bonus material from TFB which I also found interesting which also play a contributory reason for seeing it in a better light. As often with PT his extra bonus stuff is as good as anything on his official albums. I embrace his direction as I do his previous prog incarnations. However, I do agree marginally with Pete about the longevity of some of the pieces and the spoken word parts being repeated on the last track which I felt he could have worked in another ending to the album. But still a magnificent album.

[@gwts1171]

Steven's albums always sound great and I feel like I should like them, but I haven't been at all interested in anything he's done since Porcupine Tree's "Fear Of A Blank Planet". I just find it very... I guess boring is the word. It's always played great, recorded great, and very forgettable to me. Thanks for the video, Pete!

[@axis2320]

The title track should've been 5 minutes or under, a meandering track but overall, I'd give the album a 7.5/10

[@G.D.1968]

Don't agree with the overall assessment, but respect it. It's not traditional prog (contradictory terms?) but a step up from Future Bites. For some reason, I like TFB more than I like To The Bone. Is it my top 3 for SW? Probably not. But it is certainly not in the bottom. To me it feels like he captured at least one song mood from every of his previous efforts. Reading the accompanying story helps pull the songs together, and makes the title song more meaningful.

[@davidbeaumont4038]

I agree with you on a lot of things, I also agree that that this whole album doesn't go any where for me, Can go slow and just drags and i just cant connect to this album. It appears all over the place and too digital for me.

[@morten61]

I bought the album. I like it, but it is not my favorit SW album. SW is moving away from what I really like (as a sidenote - the Mondo Drag album you review that's great)

[@alriteFLY]

its a 'black licorice candy' type of album, you either love it or you hate it lol

[@kenl2091]

Mostly agree with this assessment. Main point was that it's too bitty - too diverse even (I know that's supposed to be a good thing these days but...) Impossible Tightrope is the best track and worth its ten minutes but the title track lacks something to put it into the stratosphere - it's a great launchpad but the only 'extra' is the spoken word section and that is disappointing. Economies of Scale keeps getting compared to Radiohead but it's minor division Radiohead, not Idioteque. Could have been a contender but took a dive in the 8th round.

[@musicbybackinnyc1]

i agree i heard it once and thats all i need to hear

[@arto2533]

I do dig the record. It feels more of a great sonic experience than a collection of great songs. But even by Steven Wilson's standards, the pretentiousness is certainly very very strong with this one.

[@flavormod]

Agree wholeheartedly, Pete! Wilson's best now in the distant rearview mirror.

[@joeyblowey123456]

"Don't have it, probably won't be buying it". Guess we know your reaction enough already

[@joeyblowey123456]

I do like a lot more than his last one, but I doubt we will ever get another "Raven" from him. Sigh

[@TractorCountdown]

When you fundamentally don't have the songwriting chops, no matter how long you stretch out the tracks, and no matter how many guest musicians you employ, you can't disguise that.

[@kennbrown4638]

Really liked this one. Certainly tops his last one which I did not like at all.

[@747jono]

Seen several reviews very mixed indeed.

[@michaelbeaule1966]

Wasn't for me. Listened 4 times and it's a dust collector for me. Liked "Tightrope" and the closing track but the sampling was dull and repetitive. 2 stars for me.

[@franciskocher200]

😃👍

[@jeffkortsch8276]

When I first heard Impossible Tightrope, I thought if the album was similar to that, it would be good. Unfortunately, no. Good in spots but not enough of them. Not terrible, not great - just ok.

[@unityproject2279]

I find it very lovely, and I think that's the problem! It's nice, but I just think this new drum machine, pop, vocal focused Steven isn't for me. I 100% get that he wants to try new things and new ways of composing. I don't think he will go back to the heavier sound anytime soon

[@stevesmith3990]

I like it and enjoy most of it but I wonder whether he is just trying too hard to be different and doesn't always succeed in whatever it is he's trying to do...?

[@LorisEmanuelCianni]

Boring, right

[@tanis7050]

It's funny to see you don't like the stuff Steven do now but i respect your opinion, but it's not for everyone for sure

[@garymey4314]

This album is a sonic masterpiece especially in 5.1 and Atmos. Should be listened to in one listening session to really get the total feel. Pete, I don’t think you do it justice and challenge you to listen to it at least in 5.1.

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

It's a great sounding record...I won't deny that. But the songs, to me, are quite boring and meandering. I don't think 5.1 is going to change my mind on that.

[@georgelamie7001]

@@seaoftranquilityprog If the audio format is key to enjoying it, I'd wager the material doesn't stand on it's own very well

[@chrispicha]

I understand the 5.1 comment, as illogical as it may seem. It took me listening very loudly on my home system to really feel immersed in the content, and for it to really click. This is an immersive album all the way. And, if 5.1, all the better. I kinda predicted that Pete wouldn’t dig it because the ethereal, ambient, immersive, soundtrack-like stuff does not appear to be his bag. Everything is not for everyone and that’s ok!

[@matsetizar65]

This and the last PT album I just cannot get into. Maybe all his remixing of other people’s albums is the reason these two LPs are very lacklustre and forgettable. Hard to believe because the man’s a giant. Disappointing 2/5. Sorry not sorry.

[@SomeSong2]

Wilson used to put out albums that knocked around in my brain and made me obsess over the lyrics. Nowadays he puts out oatmeal.

[@PittsburghRocks]

An expensive piece of garbage plagued with blips and bleeps and programmed drums. Steven jumped the shark with "The Future Bites"... a prescient warning about his forthcoming output.

[@Fastnbulbous1969]

I had become comfortable with the fact that I don't actually like Steven Wilson anymore, especially after reading his autobio. However Prog mag had an interesting article about it, and I'm considering getting the blu-ray to listen to it on 5.1. Don't have an Atmos system, but then, who does?

[@roberts.4261]

The album is great, at least for me. Unfortunately, some people expect everything to be the same all the time, but I can't imagine that I would enjoy having 10+ albums that don't differ. Too boring. Of course, tastes are different and not everyone can like everything, but then at least there is no need to criticize. Pete said it well, he is not his cup of tea, but of course many people like it. Similar to discussions with for example Black Sabbath, Yes, etc, a new singer comes and for many this is the end of a music journey with the band. From now on, only criticism e.g. this singer has no voice, it's not the music anymore, too many keyboards, etc.

[@twenkmcwanzer]

Too many cooks spoil the prog.

[@Bostonteax]

Brilliant album. This is the worst review Ive read / heard

[@PatLBestEver]

Because it doesn't jibe with yours. Brilliant stuff, turkey.

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

Not everyone finds it brilliant....stop expecting the world to love every album the same way that you do, it doesn't work that way. I'm a fan, but this album is very well recorded, but ultimately a bore.