Reviews of Prog Rock, Classical Music, Art Rock and Jazz
John Wesley (left) and Colin Edwin. Image © Carol Alabrese Colin Edwin was Porcupine Tree’s bass player from 1995 to 2010, playing on seven studio albums from Signify (1996) to The Incident (2009) before the band took a long hiatus. Edwin is currently a member of progressive metal band O.R.k., with American drummer Pat Mastelotto …
STAR RATING Heading In August 2017, Steven Wilson told Jess Thompson of Discogs that Tangerine Dream’s 1972 album Zeit is, ‘The original and greatest ambient record, years before the notion of ambient music existed. It’s music without melody, rhythm or structure, but listening to it is like filling the room with the most beautiful and …
Continue reading “Theo Travis – Aeolus: one hour duduk meditation – Album Review”
Steven Wilson – Insurgentes – To The Bone On Track: Every Album, Every Song (Sonicbond) I am pleased to announce that my second book, a detailed analysis of Steven Wilson’s first five solo albums released between 2008 and 2015, will be published in July 2026. The book also covers associated bonus tracks, compilation albums, EPs, live albums and singles. …
Continue reading "Radio Interview About my New Book on the Music of Steven Wilson"
Steven Wilson – Insurgentes – To The Bone On Track: Every Album, Every Song (Sonicbond) I am pleased to announce that my second book, a detailed analysis of Steven Wilson's first five solo albums released between 2008 and 2015, will be published in July 2026. The book also covers associated bonus tracks, compilation albums, EPs, …
Continue reading "My New Book on the Music of Steven Wilson"
Wednesday 3 June 2026 Polygon Portal, Soho. London ★★★★★ Source: Polygon Portal Last night, I had an experience that could have come from a Steven Wilson album when I returned to my hotel after the launch of his ninth solo album. The Harmony Codex, his seventh studio album, is partly based on his own short …
Continue reading "Steven Wilson – Album Launch and First Impressions of his Ninth Studio Album"
Saturday 25 April 2026 The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester ★★★★★ The orchestra continues its superb run of form with Julia Wolfe's vision of the aftermath of 9/11, Bomsori's virtuosic violin-playing in Tchaikovsky, and Berlioz's opium-induced visions Violinist Bomsori with members of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra © Chris Payne Like Manchester's two Premier League football teams, its …
Continue reading "BBC Philharmonic Orchestra – Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto"
Steven Wilson bites back at the future ***** THE FUTURE BITES™ In the early years Steven Wilson's band, Porcupine Tree, were often compared to Pink Floyd and Wilson himself admitted the importance of that musical influence. He later distanced himself from the Floyd, moving towards a more distinctive sound. It is not surprising that he …
Continue reading "The Future Bites by Steven Wilson – Album Review"
Deluxe re-issue of Porcupine Tree's 2005 album casts new light on a classic ***** The cover of Deadwing by Lasse Hoile Deadwing is the second album in a run of three classic releases from Porcupine Tree, starting with In Absentia in 2002 and ending with Fear of a Blank Planet in 2007. It was released …
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The Cover of The Overview by Steven Wilson, designed by Hajo Müller His Eighth Solo Album The Overview is Steven Wilson’s eighth solo album, released on 14 March 2025. It charted at number three in the UK, the fourth of Wilson’s albums (as a solo artist or with his band Porcupine Tree) in a row to …
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The Cover of The Overview by Steven Wilson, designed by Hajo Müller This is an analysis of the first half of Steven Wilson's eighth solo album, The Overview. For an introduction to the album, click here. Analysis of the second half of the album to follow. OBJECTS OUTLIVE US No Monkey’s Paw The opening describes …
Continue reading "Steven Wilson – The Overview – Album Review Part Two: ‘Objects Outlive us’"