Porcupine Tree Absentia

In Absentia is the seventh studio album by British progressive rock band Porcupine Tree, first released on 24 September 2002. The album marked several changes for the band, with it being the first with new drummer Gavin Harrison and the first to move into a more heavy metal and progressive metal direction, contrary to past albums' psychedelic and pop rock sounds…

Continuing in the growing commercial vein of their previous releases, Porcupine Tree's In Absentia may be the most accessible release to ever spew forth from the group. Rolling electronic percussion blends with simple and solid live drumming to provide an understated backbeat as perennial Tree leader Steven Wilson pastes his complicated pop over the proceedings…

Continuing in the growing commercial vein of their previous releases, Porcupine Tree's In Absentia may be the most accessible release to ever spew forth from the group. Rolling electronic percussion blends with simple and solid live drumming to provide an understated backbeat as perennial Tree leader Steven Wilson pastes his complicated pop over the proceedings. Wilson's ability to bury his layered vocals in mountains of spacy electric guitar without drowning out his fragile lyrics is still a valued feature of the music, and the rare moments of clarity that his vocals display are breathtaking in their power. A reliance on a somewhat gothic heavy metal sound makes for some bizarre moments, especially when held up against his gentler material…

Porcupine Tree - one of the UK’s most forward thinking, genre defying rock bands, return with their first new music in twelve years. Over a decade in the making, Closure/Continuation is released via Music For Nations / Sony.

Porcupine Tree - one of the UK’s most forward thinking, genre defying rock bands, return with their first new music in twelve years. Over a decade in the making, Closure/Continuation is released via Music For Nations / Sony.

Porcupine Tree makes a triumphant return to experimental, non-linear style with 2007's Fear of a Blank Planet. Maybe Steve Wilson was afraid that the comparatively poppy Deadwing and In Absentia were edging too close to the mainstream, because he seems far less concerned with overtly accessible songwriting on Blank Planet…

Over the last decade, Porcupine Tree founder Steven Wilson has been cagey when questioned about a reunion. He's enjoyed a high-profile solo career as a recording artist, producer, and remixing engineer. His bandmates are also busy: Drummer Gavin Harrison has spent years touring with King Crimson as their music director, and since 2016 he's been a full-time member of the Pineapple Thief. Keyboardist Richard Barbieri cut two albums with Marillion's Steve Hogarth, issued a pair of solo albums for Kscope, and done abundant session work. The reunion leaves out bassist Colin Edwin (who remains a vital, intrepid session bassist playing everything from avant-jazz and rock to art folk). Wilson, whose playing style is extremely different, claimed the bass chair in the studio. The formal set offers seven new tracks, and various editions include bonus cuts. The recording sessions for Closure/Continuation were kept secret for a year….