Porcupine Tree
Nil Recurring


4.0
excellent

Review

by Tom USER (1 Reviews)
September 22nd, 2007 | 157 replies


Release Date: 2008 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Steven Wilson and co. release some b-sides from the "Fear of a blank Planet" recording sessions that can easily stand by themselves as solid Porcupine Tree recordings.

Porcupine Tree are a fascinating outfit on many levels. They have been around in some form with Steven Wilson at the helm in some form or another for a whopping seventeen years but it is only the comparatively recent albums "In Absentia", "Deadwing" and earlier this year "Fear Of A Blank Planet" that have pulled them into the international spotlight. This was I believe for two main reasons, firstly that Steven Wilson's direction for the band changed to a more structured intent with "In Absentia" and secondly Wilson's involvement (both producing and singing) with the metal juggernauts Opeth made him instantly have a higher profile. This involvement with Opeth has seemed to influence Wilson with the band moving towards a heavier sound overall. They recently toured with Dream Theater.

So now very suddenly this CD/EP entitled "Nil Recurring" appears and is being sold sparingly at gigs until full release later in the year. Consisting of four songs, it explores some similar territory to "Fear.." but explores some brand new ideas that keep the listener interested. All of the songs are over six minutes long, the last track "What Happens Now?.." clocking in at around eight minutes. The album opens with the instrumental "Nil recurring" and gives a reasonable indication of the material contained within the next three tracks, movements between delay drenched heaviness and slower breakdowns. There is no "My Ashes" or "Lazurus" on this EP. Each song moves through the delay drenched heaviness and slower breakdowns mixed with jam moments; there is no complete slow song. Nil Recurring has guest guitar from Robert Fripp and is gloriously flowing. The syncopated rhythms of the song push it along at a very nice tempo. This song is the most original on the album, seemingly using no material from "Fear..".

The next song "Normal" is like an extended, heavier version of "Sentimental" with the same chorus used and guitar riffs. There is notably no piano introduction, this track is guitar led and is much longer than sentimental. For a lot of fans Sentimental wasn't exactly the highlight of "Fear.." and this version which does have several different and new vocal lines along with very different backing music gives the song a brand new edge and is a good listen. It shows Wilson's vocal range off very nicely as well.

One thing you will notice in the final three tracks on the EP is rhythmic elements that are in the 20 minute "Anaesthetize" from "Fear". You start to realise how much work went into making that album. The next track "Cheating the Polygraph" has a great drive to it that pushes it along and seamlessly links this heavy/melodic breakdown techniques with keyboard leads. Around six minutes in you notice some of the rhythms from "Anaestehtize" creeping in but the method through which they are applied puts the listener in a different mindset to that frame.

The last song "What happens Now?" has some of the lyrics from "My Ashes" slotted into it. It is once again a completely different song, more of a slow burner that builds up to a splitter/distortion effects laden end to the EP. This song is my personal favourite from the EP and finishes the set of songs very competently.

The overall mix of the EP is a little rawer than Steven Wilson's signature polished sound that you can hear on any of Opeth or Porcupine Tree's recent full lengths. The EP differs from "Fear.." in a few key ways. It is less claustrophobic to listen to, with some of the songs moving more toward jam sessions and flowing a lot better. The constraint put on songs like "Sentimental" that I heard isn't found here at all. Because the songs are all reasonably long, they seem to have less emphasis on conventional rock structure than on "Fear.." and this allows for a more varied feel to the EP. If you are a fan of Porcupine Tree's music and you can get your hands on this piece you will find it is a worthwhile addition addition to the collection of a band that is constantly experimenting with change.

---

Porcupine Tree are:
Richard Barbieri (keyboard)
Steven Wilson (vocals and guitar)
Gavin Harrison (drums)
Colin Edwin (bass)


user ratings (737)
3.9
excellent
other reviews of this album
JDubb (4.5)
A treatise on the loss of a Youth's mental and social well being...

e210013 (4)
These are the four leftover tracks from Fear Of A Blank Planet. They represent the complement to tha...

tribestros (4.5)
An amazing collection of four outtakes from the Fear of a Blank Planet sessions that should have bee...



Comments:Add a Comment 
Thor
September 22nd 2007


10357 Comments


Good first review, dude. I only have Deadwing from these guys but I've been meaning to check out their latest album for some time.

Geedrummer
September 22nd 2007


607 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

this cd is fantastic, so is the review.



but i loved sentimental but i beleive that normal is as good.

Dragon_Prince
September 22nd 2007


272 Comments


Good review, and nice to see that PT makes a good album after IA

Confessed2005
September 22nd 2007


6009 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Nice first review and a lovely choice of band to start with. All I would say is that Dream Theater is spelled as two words.



Welcome to the site .

tribestros
September 22nd 2007


918 Comments


This album is fantastic, btw.

Kage
September 22nd 2007


1172 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

This is a really great release, and I agree with your rating of it.

Doppelganger
September 22nd 2007


3124 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Why don't I have this?

MeowMeow
September 22nd 2007


662 Comments


Great review, but I've always found PT boring.

Geedrummer
September 22nd 2007


607 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

^i first though tht aswell but then i gave them another chance and now they are on of my fav bands of all time. i also love the fact that they have so many different genres in their albums so each release is differentThis Message Edited On 09.22.07

duckies
September 23rd 2007


143 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Great first review :thumb: I need to listen to this some more!

rattlehead42147
September 23rd 2007


1345 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

good first review but its actually supposed to be spelled steven wilson not stephen. that bothered me to no end for some reason



otherwise good work = pos vote, and im going to check this out now

Skyler
September 23rd 2007


1084 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

This material is borderline better than FOABP.

ZapatoDiablo
September 23rd 2007


167 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I already like this a lot more than FOABP.

stupid dream
September 23rd 2007


1 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I think it's Steven Wilson not Stephen (in the summary).

Shattered_Future
September 23rd 2007


1632 Comments


If tracks from this were put onto FOABP, that album would be much better. Most notably, Normal is one of my new favorites from the band now. It's just very well put together.

Yazz_Flute
September 23rd 2007


19174 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

This was a fantastic first review.

rattlehead42147
September 24th 2007


1345 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

this was a fantastic album.

rattlehead42147
September 24th 2007


1345 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

yeah definitely better than FOABP.

flancexander
September 24th 2007


46 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Thanks guys! You're all so nice! :D It seems like a lot of you are on the same page as me. I have corrected that Steven Wilson error, sorry about that! The Dream Theater link has been fixed, again my VERY bad. :D Thanks for all your comments, I feel really encouraged to write some more reviews!

Kage
September 24th 2007


1172 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Yeah, please do keep writing reviews.



You have to be logged in to post a comment. Login | Create a Profile





STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS // CONTACT US

Bands: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


Site Copyright 2005-2023 Sputnikmusic.com
All Album Reviews Displayed With Permission of Authors | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy