Decoding the Genius of Porcupine Tree and Steven Wilson
An Exploration of Progressive Rock's Evolving Echoes
Whenever I stumble upon an excellent new band, it's like finding a hidden treasure chest in my musical world. I might've breezed past their name before, but once they catch my ear, it's game on—I need to hear everything they've got. It's like a wild music scavenger hunt, from hunting down CDs to streaming non-stop. It's a total immersion, just like I did with R.E.M. in the 90s, Bob Marley in the 70s, and when I rocked out to Live and Foo Fighters in the ‘00s. All of those bands have etched their music into my subconscious. Now, I'm diving deep into Porcupine Tree's ocean of tunes. No doubt it’ll take me years to dig my way out!
Exploring a band’s music, one that intrigues me and catches my ears so strongly isn't just a phase; it becomes a years-long music marathon. I'll play their tracks on repeat, exploring every note until it's as cozy and familiar as my favorite hoodie.
Intro to Porcupine Tree
How did I first bump into Porcupine Tree? It's a bit fuzzy—like trying to remember the best dream ever. They've been on my radar for about five years, at first just a whisper like the wind on a lazy summer day. You know how it is. Most new tunes float by unless they make you sit up and listen. And there's a boatload of bands I didn't get hooked on from the outset.
Porcupine Tree? They're different from the type to pop up on the usual, snooze-worthy, bland-as-vanilla radio stations. They're more like a splash of color in a sea of beige—a polka-dotted elephant in the room of mainstream music.
They’re not about cranking out chart-toppers; they craft songs that grab you by the soul and my musical interests. Many of their songs use abnormal time signatures that don’t reflect the typical 4/4 signature of four-quarter notes to a four-beat measure. I've been noodling over how to pin down their vibe. Think of a blend of Rush's energy, Jeff Beck's guitar genius, Al DiMeola's rhythm, Tool's intensity, Muse's drama, King Crimson's legacy, Marillion's storytelling, and Pink Floyd's iconic sound. Mash it all up, and hit blend on high. How's that for a band’s vibes?
The Beginning of Porcupine Tree
Given that the band was formed in 1987, it seems astonishing that they escaped my notice for decades. But I’m not the only one: Pop Matters described them as “the most important band you’d never heard of.” Which may explain the mystery. Steven Wilson, 56, formed the band, initially starting as a solo project. He created all of the music himself, but by 1993, he’d brought in other frequent collaborators, including Richard Barbieri on keyboards, Colin Edward on bass, and Chris Maitland as drummer. Over the years, there were a few lineup changes, and their music was often described as psychedelic, space, or experimental.
If you do the math, Steven Wilson was only 20 in 1987, and according to what I’ve been able to nick from online reports, Porcupine Tree was formed that year, but only as a giant hoax; at least, that’s how he and his pal Malcolm Stocks saw it. As Wikipedia puts it, progressive rock bands such as Pink Floyd…
“…had dominated the music scene during their youth, (and) the two (Steven Wilson and Malcom Stocks) decided to form a fictional legendary rock band named The Porcupine Tree. The two fabricated a detailed back-story including information on alleged band members and album titles, as well as a "colourful" history which purportedly included events such as a meeting at a 1970s rock festival and several trips in and out of prison.”
Time marched on, and Steven realized that some of the music he wrote for his pretend-fictional-fake band Porcupine Tree might be marketable. He made an 80-minute cassette called “Tarquin’s Seaweed Farm” (YouTube link), complete with an eight-page inlay that embellished the hoax and story.
That rang a memory bell for me. It sounds like what I was doing as a young teen. For instance, I imagined Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club band as a full-on 45-minute movie. The music came to life in my brain. My brothers and I invented a band and would play stuff on a small stage we cobbled together. Didn’t every kid dreamer make up things like that, never imagining it would go anywhere? But Steven’s stuff went places, although it took some time. Check out the whole story on Wikipedia; it’s fascinating, and I don’t need to go into it here.
Porcupine Tree Discography
Porcupine Tree's got a lineup of eleven epic albums from 1992 to 2022, and I'm still surfing the first waves of their musical tsunami. I'm not ready to crown a favorite album yet because it's like trying to pick the yummiest flavor of ice cream without tasting them all. And honestly, I'm in that fun phase where I couldn't match a song to its album if I tried—it's all one big, rad Porcupine party in my head, just like with Live and the Foo Fighters. It’s also how I consume music today compared to the first half of my life: back then, I’d put an album on and play both sides in order. You do that enough, and you know the album track-by-track. Much of my listening is streaming today, and it’s harder to pin down a specific track to a particular album.
Why do I vibe with their tunes? Three reasons: First, their songwriting is like a mad scientist's lab—full of wild time changes that'll spin your head right around. Second, the sound quality is crispier than your favorite potato chip, with every note popping out perfectly. Third, they're brave enough to send music into the universe that might seem as distant as a star on first listen. That takes guts. It reminds me of my radio DJ days, with promoters promising me 'instantly catchy' tracks that were more like riddles wrapped in enigmas. Spoiler: Porcupine Tree's music is way more intriguing (translation: some is ‘accessible’ and others maybe not so much!).
A Handful of Songs to Start With
These are links to YouTube videos. There’s a much longer Spotify playlist below, which covers Porcupine Tree, Steven Wilson's solo tracks, and several of his remixes (we’ll get to that later). For now, here are a few songs you can peruse one at a time.
Anesthetize, from Fear of a Blank Planet (2007). A 17-minute exploration of being lost in a store like zombies (or a similar state). Mid-tempo with a lot of heavy guitars, manic drumming, synthesizers, and softer spots to remove the hard edges.
Shesmovedon, from Lightbulb Sun (2000). As you might surmise, lyrically a note to the one who left. There are lots of harmonies and a few heavy guitar spots. Generally, it is a softer version of Porcupine Tree.
Deadwing, from Deadwing (2005). Nearly ten minutes long, the title track paints a lyrical pastiche of creeping darkness, cancer scares, bleeding hearts, and dreams. The Deadwing of the title is referenced as a lullaby.
Mellotron Scratch, from Deadwing (2005). A song about a girl who cries at the sound of a mellotron scratch.
Slave Called Shiver, from Stupid Dream (1999). At under five minutes, one of the shorter songs on this list starts with a rolling, thumping, heavy bass line, which is quickly supplemented by simple piano notes. Steven Wilson’s voice comes in like a balloon over the top. Another song where the title words do not show up in the lyrics.
Octane Twisted, from The Incident (2009). Perhaps, if such a thing exists, the epitome of a Porcupine Tree song. It starts off slow, but by the time you’re a third of the way into the five-minute song, the guitar riffs and drum hits are coming hard and heavy. A handful of odd sounds, probably synths. As for lyrics, the bare minimum.
Trains, from In Absentia (2002). The beautiful light strumming of an acoustic guitar eases you into the song. A minute later, the lament of a 60-ton angel falling to the earth gets decidedly heavy. Definitely a fave, so far.
…and one I listened to for the first time on the 40-minute drive back from my mum’s. Yes, it’s a 40-minute improvisation that kept me inspired about music the entire track, and yes, I realize a song that long is a commitment! Moonloop (Unedited Improvisation), from Transition IV (2020)
Steven Wilson Solo Recordings
Rewinding to that gem of a quote from Pop Matters, they called them "the most important band you’d never heard of." Steven Wilson has a solo lineup of seven killer albums, kicking off in 2008 and dropping his latest masterpiece, 'Harmony Codex,' this past September. Out of that collection, there’s one album that I’ve put on repeat more than the others: 2021’s “The Future Bites.” It’s got a helluva groove through and through, and lyrically, it takes on consumer culture and the 21st century’s zeitgeist. A press release at the time said it “picks apart our 21st-century utopia while also allowing for moments of personal growth and optimism."
The guy's not just a strummer; he's a six-string sorcerer. Guitar World hailed him as a progressive guitar hero, and get this—in 2015, music fans at MusicRadar voted him the 7th wonder of the prog guitar world. Prog magazine crowned him one of the UK's top musical monarchs in 2018. It's not just me singing his praises; the world's tuned into Steven's virtuoso vibe.
But Wait, There’s More: The Remix Catalog
Just a couple of years back, as I was starting to ride the Porcupine Tree wave, I had this 'aha!' moment when I found out that Steven Wilson was the wizard behind the band's curtain. And then—plot twist—a tweet from a fellow prog-rock aficionado dropped a bombshell. He'd tuned into Steven Wilson's remix of Jethro Tull's 'Aqualung.' My brain somersaulted. He did what now?
I jumped into the rabbit hole, and yep, it's for real. And it's a big deal for two reasons. First, I remember snagging the 'Aqualung' CD back in the day and feeling let down by the volume—it was like trying to hear a whisper at a rock concert. It didn't do justice to those mellow guitar riffs and vocals. But now, there's a remix jazzing it up? And second, it's Steven Wilson—the Steven Wilson—spinning the magic? I hit play without missing a beat.
Then, my curiosity kicked into overdrive. If Steven Wilson worked his magic on that Jethro Tull classic, what else has he touched? That's when my musical spelunking went deep underground. I've found a treasure trove of his remixes but have yet to scratch the surface. There are too many to list here, but if you're game for a musical treasure hunt, Wikipedia's Steven Wilson's discography is laid out like a map. Looks like my ears are booked for the foreseeable future!
Check out the lineup on his complete discography page. Here’s a look at some of the bands whose albums he’s remixed. He’s created new stereo, 5.1 stereo, and Dolby Atmos stereo remixes along the way:
King Crimson
Jethro Tull
Emerson, Lake, & Palmer
Caravan
Hawkwind
Gentle Giant
Tears for Fears
Simple Minds
Steve Hackett
XTC
Opeth
Chicago
Marillion
Rush
Roxy Music
Tangerine Dream
Ultravox
Black Sabbath
Kiss
Robert Fripp
a-ha
Grateful Dead
Chic
Van Morrison
Sister Sledge
Suede
Richard Wright
ABC
The Who
I mean, damn, this guy is busy. Does he ever sleep? Probably not. Would you, if you were given access to the original recordings of all those albums and artists and the task of making them sound as good as possible? Yeah, I doubt it.
There’s Even More
In 2010, Pop Matters did an interview with Steven Wilson, in which, in the intro to the piece, the author Stephen Humphries said:
Over the past 20 years, songwriter Steven Wilson has launched more enterprises than Richard Branson. In addition to solo releases under his own name and an ambient music project dubbed Bass Communion, Wilson is also the musical director of the art-rock band No-Man, one half of the pop duo Blackfield, and is recording an avant-garde rock record titled Storm Corrosion with Opeth’s Mikael Åkerfeldt.
I just came across this piece, so I’ll now be forced to dig even deeper into Bass Communion, N0-Man, Blackfield, et al. I guess that’ll be okay.
Porcupine Tree/Steven Wilson and Remix Playlist
I could create a playlist about a day and a half long. There’s that much material to pull from if you count Porcupine Tree, Steven Wilson’s solo releases, and all of the remixes he’s done. However you look at it, digging into the giant stacks of wax takes time and commitment.
I did manage to put together a relatively short playlist that’s only about 3.5 hours long. A dozen tracks from Porcupine Tree, a half dozen Steven Wilson solo cuts, and another 20 of his remixes, including Jethro Tull, XTC, King Crimson, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Hawkwind, and more.
Enjoy…and let me know what you think of the music!
Thanks for the turn-ons. Good music!
Wilson is surely prolific and sublime, but I also love the synth textures that Richard Barbieri brought to the band as well.