PORCUPINE TREE – FEAR OF A BLANK PLANET

Not only being a master at production, a critical influence on the later years of the now 70’s prog driven Opeth, being in a plethora of different bands Steven Wilson is a talented guy. But from small acorns grow mighty oaks and it all started with Porcupine Tree.

Although Fear of A Blank Planet isnt one of the band’s earliest works its definitely one of their heaviest. Following on from the mind bending In Absentia, the album encapsulates Porcupine Tree and their ethos. Giving it a darker texture melded with the slight melancholy layers of Wilson’s voice and the unresolved and sometimes unconventional song writing. That although accessible are always shrouded in mystery, with the main theme of the album being to do with our enslavement to technology and the lack of human interaction as far as I have worked out myself.

The songs are all masterfully put together from the vignettes of ” My Ashes” to the monstrous “Anesthetize” coming in at seventeen minutes the albums centre piece. Many argue that Fear Of A Blank Planet is the band’s heaviest release with excellent use of contrast, building on a simple riff. Beginning as a single note rhythm with light drums then slowly intensifying as power chords are brought in and the drums kick it up a notch.

What Porcupine Tree are truly masters of however is the ability to seamlessly move through so many vast sound scales. Reminiscent of Kraut rock legends Tangerine Dream beginning at one end of the spectrum and always slowly and subtly moving through to the other end. A brilliant album that requires a front to back listen. If there was a blank planet, had it been soundtracked by Porcupine Tree I don’t think any of us would mind.