Porcupine Tree - Recordings
SKU
25-KSC-CD-134
Re-edition of the long out-of-print rarities collection, originally released in 2001 and which contains rare recordings from the Stupid Dream and Lightbulb Sun era/sessions.
"Released as a semi stopgap collection in mid-2001 during a period of general Porcupine Tree inactivity, outside of some concert appearances here and there, Recordings compiles the various B-sides and extra tracks from singles taken from Stupid Dream and Lightbulb Sun, adding a couple of unreleased goodies as well. It`s obviously for the hardcore fans more than anyone else -- those wanting an introduction to the band will find it of interest but not the best place to start. Those hardcore fans, though, will find it a very enjoyable release, with the previously unavailable songs of definite interest. `Buying New Soul,` which starts the album, is one of the band`s subtler epics, an eleven-minute number with all the multitracked vocals and wistfully burnt imagery any fan of classic English prog could want. `Access Denied,` originally planned for Lightbulb Sun itself, is (in part) a wonderfully jaunty little number which could have come from mid-eighties XTC, Wilson`s contributions on hammered dulcimer an inspired touch. The remaining tracks reappear from the various singles, though sometimes in different form. `Oceans Have No Memory,` originally surfacing as a demo, gets a full instrumental band version here, while `Even Less,` the majestic opening blast from Stupid Dream, turns up in its full fourteen minute length, the second part having only appeared before on a separate single. The full `Even Less` features past guests the East of England Orchestra and Theo Travis, both of whom also turn up on `Ambulance Chasing,` an unexpectedly successful fusion of everything from heavy tribal drumming to saxophone. There`s an attractive range of stylistic experimentation on display with the various B-sides and extra numbers, ranging from the minimal, near-ambient exploration of `Cure For Optimism` to the building rocker `Disappear."-Ned Raggett