Vautrin Vautrin The Thief (1943)

Recorded at Snap Studios and mixed at Strongroom Studios in London, Magnolia represents the ultimate culmination of songwriter & guitarist Bruce Soord’s ongoing quest to raise spirits and connect. A devastating yet uplifting collection of 12 beautifully crafted songs, it showcases the band’s intuitive chemistry and soulful demeanour, cramming a vast array of emotional shades and inspirational ideas into its 47 mesmerising minutes. Veering from the strident opening assault of ‘Simple As That’, due to be the first single, through to the cinematic sweep of the closing track ‘Bond’, it marks an important step in the band’s story, while skilfully encapsulating everything that has made their musical journey such a relentlessly fascinating one.

The Pineapple Thief’s 1999 debut album given a 2017 Kscope label reissue under its original name, Abducted At Birth. When the album was first released, the name was changed to Abducting The Unicorn by the label, Cyclops Records, in order to create a connection with the previous band headed by TPT's frontman Bruce Soord - Vulgar Unicorn. Featuring strong melodies and powerful choruses, this early post-Progressive album offers a gripping insight in to Soord's songwriting talent and the birth of one of the UK's leading Progressive bands. Remastered by TPT keyboardist Steve Kitch and available as a CD in digipak with 4-page booklet. The cover and booklet art has been completely updated, using fan submitted photography to explore the theme of Abducted At Birth, to startling effect.

The progressive rockers who emerged in the '90s and 2000s ranged from time-warped artists who faithfully emulated the prog explorers of the '60s and '70s to artists who combined prog rock with '90s/2000s alternative rock and were not oblivious to life in a post-Nevermind world. This best-of collection, which spans 1999-2008, makes it clear that the Pineapple Thief falls into the latter category; founder/leader Bruce Soord appreciates Pink Floyd's classic '70s albums, but the fact that he enjoys Wish You Were Here and Dark Side of the Moon doesn't make him any less appreciative of Nirvana, Radiohead, or melodic industrial rockers Nine Inch Nails…

While not nearly as cutting-edge as its predecessor, All The Wars still provides a remarkably alluring collection of alt-rock songs…

With Your Wilderness, Bruce Soord's the Pineapple Thief shift their musical focus away from their exploration of polished rock so evident on 2012's All the Wars and 2014's Magnolia, and back toward contemporary prog…

With Your Wilderness, Bruce Soord's the Pineapple Thief shift their musical focus away from their exploration of polished rock so evident on 2012's All the Wars and 2014's Magnolia, and back toward contemporary prog. Drummer Dan Osborne, who made his debut with the band on Magnolia, proved short-lived in his role; he has been replaced by Porcupine Tree/King Crimson kit man Gavin Harrison. Soord also enlisted guests including Supertramp's John Helliwell on clarinet, Caravan's string player/arranger Geoffrey Richardson, Godsticks' guitarist Darran Charles, and a four-voice choir. Harrison's addition can't be overstated. His playing extends the reach of their musicality exponentially.
The album title denotes themes of isolation, loneliness, and alienation - not unfamiliar ones in PT's oeuvre. That said, they've never been explored with such a brooding focus as they are here…