In Absentia

Artist: Porcupine Tree
Label: Lava
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Import
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 2

UPC: 075679316325
EAN: 0075679316325
ASIN: B00007J36G

Release Date: 2003-01-16

In Absentia

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Tracks:

Blackest Eyes
Trains
Lips Of Ashes
The Sound Of Muzak
Gravity Eyelids
Wedding Nails
Prodigal
3
The Creator Has A Mastertape
Heartattack In A Lay By
Strip The Soul
Collapse The Light Into Earth
Drown With Me (Bonus Disc)
Chloroform (Bonus Disc)
Strip The Soul (Bonus Video Edit)

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Amazon.com

After a quarter-century of punk and postmodern excesses, it's always something of a surprise to find young musicians who not only recall a past era's musical indulgences, but also revel in them. This Lava Records debut is the latest fruit of Porcupine Tree mainstay Steven Wilson's obsession with prog, a mania that dates to the late '80s when the "band" was little more than a fantasy, though one with a remarkably imaginative--if entirely fictional--history and bio. But that pipedream eventually became a real "alt prog" cult fave, with these dozen ambitious songs finding a focus that occasionally eluded the band on half-hour soundscapes like its underground hit, "Voyage 34." Tracks like "Gravity Eyelids" have a retro-psychedelic feel that would have done the XTC alter ego Dukes of Stratosphear proud, with Wilson's pure melodic tenor pushing it beyond the merely baroque. But the collection is also a strong statement of another crucial Wilson/Porcupine retro-sensibility: The album has unified musical statement. "Lips of Ashes" and "Prodigal" serve up the sort of impressionistic, harmony-rich musings that Pink Floyd has rarely managed since <I>Wish You Were Here</I>, while "The Creator Has a Master Tape" punctuates the rich harmonies of tracks like "Heart Attack in a Layby" with Crimson-esque metallic thrash and processed vocals. While the band's instrumental prowess sometimes slums its way into the free-form jazz noodling of past efforts, the album remains one of the band's fullest achievements. <I>--Jerry McCulley</I>

Album Description

UK edition of the progressive rock act's 2002 album includes a bonus CD with three tracks, 'Drown With Me', 'Chloroform' & 'Strip The Soul' (Video Edit). Lava/Atlantic. 2002.

Album Details

2002 Album from the Longtime Progressive Rock Outfit that Includes a Bonus Three Track CD for a Limited Time.

Customer Reviews:

Very strong !.......2007-05-15

I am new to Porcupine Tree, but I already love this band. Powerful music and magical vocal harmonies, this album has it all. If you are looking for modern prog music played by amazing musicians, this band is for you.

Don't believe reviewers...listen for yourself!.......2007-04-18

Pay no attention to some of the moronic blowhards gracing you with their vaunted opinions. Simply click the buttons up in the sample section and listen for yourself.
Myself, I haven't enjoyed a CD as much as I enjoyed this one since Toy Matinee. I can't tell whether it's good music or bad music. But, I can tell you I love it!

Saving one of the wonders of the world.......2007-03-17

In Absentia feels like a much darker album than it's successor. Critics have written before about the band's attempt to make a concept album about a boy who grows up to be a serial killer. The lead song, "Blackest Eyes," may suggest that but the song itself has a great sound with powerful riffs, while the band create a tripping jam on "Gravity Eyelids." "Trains," and "The Sound of Muzak," are two of the band's best cuts with the latter referring to the demise in the quality of music being created today as they sing, "The music of the future will not entertain. It's only meant to repress and neutralize your brain." Sadly, the band may be right as they sing how one of the wonders of the world is going down, but with their own brand of progressive metal, Porcupine Tree show sufficient momentum to modernize rock music and make it mainstream again.

Lots of variety!.......2007-02-28

This music is undefinable ultimately. Oh yes, one can say parts sound like hard rock or progressive. One can say many things about it. For me, this, along with "Up the Downstairs" are probably their two best and they are both as different as night and day. I've become a collector of PT's stuff and like most of it very much indeed. Check out some of the side projects of the members in the band--like Blackfield and No-Man. They are worth good listenings too. But, you know, this wouldn't be a bad album to start your PT experience with. No, not at all!

Strong performance; get the DTS version!.......2007-02-17

I first heard Porcupine Tree during a demonstration at the Consumer Electronics show. The DTS version fully exploits a 5.1 channel music system; it's better than stereo like stereo is better than mono.
PT's music suggests strong influences from Yes and Rush, without being deriviatives of either. Great vocals, strong interesting rhythms, dynamic edgy guitar.

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