In Absentia Overview
Hailed by Billboard as 'cinematic...simple gorgeous', Porcupine Tree are unquestionably one of the UK's most inspired and inventive rock groups. In Absentia is their eagerly anticipated Lava Records debut. Digipak. 2002.
In Absentia Specifications
After a quarter-century of punk and postmodern excesses, it's always something of a surprise to find young musicians who not only recall a past era's musical indulgences, but also revel in them. This Lava Records debut is the latest fruit of Porcupine Tree mainstay Steven Wilson's obsession with prog, a mania that dates to the late '80s when the "band" was little more than a fantasy, though one with a remarkably imaginative--if entirely fictional--history and bio. But that pipedream eventually became a real "alt prog" cult fave, with these dozen ambitious songs finding a focus that occasionally eluded the band on half-hour soundscapes like its underground hit, "Voyage 34." Tracks like "Gravity Eyelids" have a retro-psychedelic feel that would have done the XTC alter ego Dukes of Stratosphear proud, with Wilson's pure melodic tenor pushing it beyond the merely baroque. But the collection is also a strong statement of another crucial Wilson/Porcupine retro-sensibility: The album has unified musical statement. "Lips of Ashes" and "Prodigal" serve up the sort of impressionistic, harmony-rich musings that Pink Floyd has rarely managed since Wish You Were Here, while "The Creator Has a Master Tape" punctuates the rich harmonies of tracks like "Heart Attack in a Layby" with Crimson-esque metallic thrash and processed vocals. While the band's instrumental prowess sometimes slums its way into the free-form jazz noodling of past efforts, the album remains one of the band's fullest achievements. --Jerry McCulley
Customer Reviews
I am a big Pink Floyd fan and a fan of '90s grunge and thrash metal, and it was difficult, a different artist, to find how Floyd sound. Then I installed the Pandora application on my phone and logically created a Pink Floyd-station. To my surprise, I heard "child prodigy" from this album, and my ears pricked up his ears.
I can explain the parallelism between the PF and PT? Not with much accuracy. But I hear similarities. Steve Wilson's soft vocals ala David Gilmour? MaybeThis is what it is. Deposits occasional noise? Maybe. Soaring guitar solos? Ambient Soundscapes? Slide guitar? Concept album? Less often, but the use of an intriguing mellotron and Hammond organ? Sure, why not. Regardless of "In Absentia" was my first encounter with PT and I have ordered for 5 more: the year delirium, Fear Of A Blank Planet Deadwing, Office of the Nile, tungsten, and so I also ordered the live concert DVD, too planning and trying to lift the 5.1 surround sound of the albums thatare in this format. Bulb is probably my favorite year. I plan to have all things PT's!
Then take from one end of the 30-something fan-PF - PT is rare, but justice eloquently for the metal fans to be in you, lots of singing harmony, and melodies script fountain, a modern, progressive-rock package may get the sack. If you're a PF, he feels "miracles" and feel some similarities with PF - a real treat too!
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