Random Artist Feature: Porcupine Tree (2 videos, 30 minutes)

Here's another RAF, and with Porcupine Tree, a band I've been a fan of for many years, and who have an extensive catalog. I own most of their catalog, including all of their full-lengths. My copy of Deadwing I looked for, for the better part of 3 days, but failed to find. I can attest to organizing and finding a lot of my cluttered compact discs though, which are mostly now together on my shelves.

But as I mention at the end of the 2nd video, I may do the name-in-a-hat thing for this project.

PT of course have that large catalog, like most of the RAF's I've done so far, but I imagine doing artists with shorter catalogs at some point, and thus, the video won't go 30 or even 20 minutes necessarily.

Steven Wilson's plans for 2014

https://www.facebook.com/StevenWilsonHQ/posts/684038771616388:0

Among these plans, his next solo band record appears could come possibly late (Sept/Oct/Nov) release 2014, or maybe more likely Jan/Feb/March 2015.

And it sure sounds looks like a Porcupine Tree reunion seems to be in the works, lol ;).

Happy new year everyone! Thanks for the love and support you brought to my music in 2013, I can’t remember having a better response to an album / tour, and I’ve been doing this a long time, so that means a lot (-:

Usually at this time of year I like to post something of an update regarding what’s coming up. Last year there was a lot to announce with the imminent release of the album and touring plans but this year will be somewhat quieter while I concentrate on developing ideas and material for the next album, which I plan to record with my band in the Summer. 

In the meantime there are a few reissues planned, including a compiled reissue of the Cover Version singles, a CD box set collecting various out of print Bass Communion titles, plus several more classic album stereo / 5.1 remixes, including the next in the series by XTC, Jethro Tull and Yes. Unfortunately contractual issues have so far made a hoped for 10th anniversary edition remaster collecting all the music from Porcupine Tree's “In Absentia” sessions not possible - hopefully that situation will change.

In terms of public appearances I will be playing a few shows with Aviv Geffen as part of Blackfield, a short run in European in February, you can find more information and ticket links on the Blackfield website, here - http://blackfieldmusic.com/live-dates/

Of course all developments will be announced here and on the official http://stevenwilsonhq.com site first. All that is left for me to do is wish you the very best for 2014!

Porcupine Tree - Godfearing Demo (2001-2003?)

link

just a demo, and the years indicate it was written and worked-on during the In Absentia period. Not bad, although nothing mind blowing. But the amount obsession for Porcupine Tree and Steven Wilson, and even just specifically In Absentia, it's probably worth passing along for those who haven't seen/heard it yet. It's downloadable for free, which suggests it likely isn't coming out (at least this version) on any official release anytime soon.

The Mars Volta - Noctourniquet (2012)

2/13/12 8:43PM
http://www.themarsvolta.com/the-malkin-jewel/


the whole track "The Malkin Jewel"..this is definitely different, but it intrigues me in a lot of ways.
below: Track Times have been added from http://www.themarsvolta.com/discography

2/9/12 2:12PM


early review:

"My hatred of prog rock and it's mushroom munching, Hobbit-loving fans"

I'd love to force this writer, Rory O'Keeffe, to attend Nearfest, just out of spite, with comments like that..That write-up, while intriguing, reeks of the attittude hordes of snobs (and Hipsters) who pine for the return of At the Drive-In.

"The best American Rock Band to come out of the second half of the 1990s"  ? well, not really.

They were good and can be applauded for ambition, but there are other bands that at least formed and recorded their earliest music then that I still would take easily over AtDI. How about dredg, for one.


30 second preview of "The Malkin Jewel" below. The new single, which drops next Tuesday, February 14th.

The Malkin Jewel (Snippet) by The Mars Volta


1/17/12 2:05PM
Track List/cover art and link with more info here



1 The Whip Hand 4:49
2 Aegis 5:11
3 Dyslexicon 4:22
4 Empty Vessels Make the Loudest Sound 6:43
5 The Malkin Jewel 4:44
6 Lapochka 4:16
7 In Absentia 7:26
8 Imago 3:58
9 Molochwalker 3:33
10 Trinkets Pale of Moon 4:25
11 Vedamalady 3:54
12 Noctourniquet 5:39
13 Zed and Two Naughts 5:36



V/A classifierV/A labelV/A genreV/A tributeLanguagesEnglishEnglishCatalog NoReissue?Not a reissueNot a reissue

"While Noctourniquet was, in typical Mars Volta fashion, written by Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and produced by Rodriguez-Lopez, the 13-track album explores musical territories previously uncharted in the duo's 20 or so years of creating music together. The spectrum of musical and emotional textures conceived and created by Rodriguez-Lopez ranges from the opening bombast of "The Whip Hand" to the menacing crawl of "The Malkin Jewel" punctuated throughout by hypnotic melodies and borderline electro-ambient washes, most notably in the epic "In Absentia." The bold diversity of the new material combined with Rodriguez-Lopez's most confident and refined performances to date make Noctourniquet an early contender for this year's most challenging and rewarding listen."

1/12/12 6:15PM


link

album title "Noctourniquet"
1/9/12 1:00AM
This may be the cover art by Sonny Kay, but the source doesn't really hold a ton of confidence.



1/7/12 4:08PM



Rock Zone twitter post


In Absentia, nuevo disco de The Mars Volta para el 27 de marzo.

I just saw some info their new album comes out on March 27th. There is no confirmed Title although it may start with an "A." Despite how that twitter post reads, the title is not in fact "In Absentia" but 1 of the songs is titled.

link

There is a song on the new volta that goes by the name in absentia but it is not the record title…I am afraid that is not the title of latest volta record. we will announce it soon. it really is just around the corner.

I guess it (or another track, "Zed and Two Naughts" perhaps) is going to be included on the soundtrack to the new video game MLB12 though.

some of the songs people are speculating:

Aegis
The Malking Jewel
Molochwalk
The Whip Hand
Zed And Two Naughts
In Absentia
Trinkets Pale Of Moon
Mountains of Avarice (or something similar)
Noctourniquet
Dyslexicon
Lurking About In A Cold Sweat (this may be an older title for In Absentia, not sure)

What happened with their record label situation, etc I haven't read about yet, but there was/is a facebook campaign to let them release this album, an album that has been done and ready to be released for awhile, but did not come out in 2011 due to label issues.