Few bands would be willing (or able) to take their chances on a 55-minute epic track, but Porcupine Tree has designed its entire career on chasing the unexpected, and it’s yet to miss the mark.
Two years after releasing the well-received “Fear Of A Blank Planet,” the Grammy-nominated foursome has returned with a much-anticipated follow-up titled “The Incident.” The band may have retreated slightly from the metal edge explored on several recent releases, but it more than makes up for it on the adventurous side. This is the one PTree CD that covers all the ground that it’s visited over the years — progressive rock, metal, psychedelia, vocal harmonies, ambient … you name it.
While the self-titled centerpiece of the album is divided into 14 separate tracks, the material flows together to form a song cycle that touches upon the life-changing events that are covered in the media with just a wink and a nod. Inside the larger composition lies the standout track called “Time Flies.” The band pays homage to Pink Floyd’s “Animals” album with alternating time signatures and shifting soundscapes, and without just copying the Floyd outright. From the three power chords that open “Occam’s Razor” through the offbeat lyrics and brilliant drum work from Gavin Harrison on “I Drive The Hearse,” Porcupine Tree has created an intense tour de force that will challenge listeners without alienating those who may be new to the band’s work.
If it weren’t for the comparison to the monumental title track, the four remaining songs on disc two are equally worthy of praise. “Flicker” and “Black Dahlia” are more laidback and melancholic than the rest of the material but work extremely well set against the more out-there approach taken on “Remember Me Lover” and the downright brutal “Bonnie The Cat.” It’s here where the rest of the band really shines and provides the perfect interior decorating to Steven Wilson’s architecture.
As excellent as the album may be, it’s hard to shake the feeling that Wilson has an even greater masterpiece lurking inside. But until that day comes, “The Incident” is one of the year’s best recordings.
Rating: W W W W W
