Search - Porcupine Tree :: Sky Moves Sideways

Rapture.

spiral_mind | Pennsylvania | 05/21/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Though they're generally filed somewhere under 'progressive' and its various subheadings (with all the baggage for good or bad the name implies), Porcupine Tree has always been a little tougher to pin down. They're ambient, they're psychedelic, they're electronic, they're catchy pop, they're hard-edged rock.. and the main focus is always strong writing, which needs and deserves no labels anyway. 1995's The Sky Moves Sideways was a turning point between the first mostly-instrumental phase and the newer song-based albums; this newer remastered edition is expanded to two discs and includes a nice helping of unreleased material. A drum program used on two original tracks has been replaced here with real drums also.



The title track is of course the main body of TSMS, and it's a mesmerizing journey: a moody passage enhanced with sumptuous atmospherics filling the room.. a powerful crashing chorus.. wild trippy phases of pulsing synths, airy flutes and fiery guitars echoing vastly across the heavens, sounding like a wondrous blend of Brian Eno, Pink Floyd, Ozric Tentacles and the Orb (though it really doesn't sound like any one of them). Its two halves bookend the other tracks with one ultra-tasty panorama of rapturous sounds and atmospheres after another.



The other offerings are nicely varied as well, from psychedelic groove (the hypnotic 20-minute "Moonloop") to atmospheric ballads ("Stars Die," left off the original album for no good reason) to nasty minor-keyed rock ("Dislocated Day"). Rounding off this expanded edition is an alternate earlier version of the title track, giving a fascinating new perspective - it isn't split in half, it's got different sections and passages that didn't make the final cut, and some of the lyrics are changed.



If a mere couple vocal tracks amid so much sprawling instrumental work doesn't sound like a good first pick, or you're looking for something a little more rocking & energetic, just go for either Signify or their latest masterwork In Absentia instead (although you can't really go wrong with anything under the PT name). But this one is always worth a serious good look - and it really has to be heard to be believed."

An epic similar to Wish You Were Here...

Kort Kramer | South Florida, USA | 06/09/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"...but not just like it.PT is often compared to Pink Floyd and with good reason. They are both outstanding band from England not afraid to experiement with their sound. Both can create dreamy, lush soundscapes as well as jammin rockers. However, they are both their own entities and thank goodness for that.I had one of the original releases of TSMS and was amazing to hear how much the re-master improved upon the original. There is much more dynamic range and I hear things I missed the first time. Plus you get a bonus CD of alternate takes and songs that didn't make the original album.I bought both and feel it was money will spent. I think you will to. This is not the easiest music to get into, spiral_mind was right about that. But it is well worth repeat listenings, a true 5 star album in my humble opinion. Most PT albums are."

Remaster is a big improvement over the original

spiral_mind | 03/21/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have both the original and remastered versions. Wow, what a difference in sound quality. Real drums replace machine drums on a few tracks, and the overall sound is greatly improved. If you are a fan of PT, I highly recommend this double CD."