Due to his utterly brilliant and almost immaculate Porcupine Tree discography and a couple of excellent solo albums, Steven Wilson has been my prog hero for years and I have had the honour and privilege to interview him a couple of times already, where he clearly stated that he did not like to be called a prog hero or prog god.... The last two solo albums of mister Wilson, The Harmony Codex (2023) and The Future Bites (2021), were definitely NOT my favourite albums, especially The Future Bites which was a 100% disappointment, and it is also the only album that I did not add to my extensive Wilson collection... However, Wilson hinted in a couple of recent interviews that he now has gone back to a more progressive rock style, so I could not wait to hear the new album called The Overview. It is Wilson's eight solo studio album and after a lot of spins I am happy to say that The Overview is indeed a marvellous progressive rock album and it is clear that Wilson has indeed embraced his progressive rock roots again. The Overview consists of two epic, expansive songs called respectively Objects Outlive Us, which clocks in over twenty-three minutes and The Overview, which clocks in over eighteen minutes. The two songs mark another ambitious step in the renowned career of Wilson, who is known for his intricate compositions and prog rock defying exploration. On The Overview Wilson takes us as listeners on a musical journey that is both expansive and intriguing, with the sound he is famous for, meaning blending elements of ambient, electronics, alternative and prog rock; resulting in an album that sounds/feels rather familiar and adventurous indeed. The opening track Objects Outlive Us (great title, by the way) is divided into eight parts and it contains almost haunting piano melodies, riveting "heavy" rock passages and of course Wilson's omnipresent impressive vocal performance. For me, some of the weird, spacy, almost Porcupine Tree-like heavy instrumental sections (Cosmic Sons Of Troll) form the highlight of this musical rollercoaster. This first epic masterpiece ends with a very melodic, atmospheric distorted guitar solo, which gives me goosebumps all over and make we want to push the repeat button repeatedly. Objects Outlive Us is a perfect showcase of Wilson's ability to create tension, guiding listeners through a wave of emotions and wanting for more. The shorter title track kicks off with a stark and rather "weird" contrast as the first five minutes - a bit too long, if you ask me - feature ambient/electronic textures alongside a spoken-word part by Wilson's wife, bringing back memories of Wilson's previous solo album The Harmony Codex. Not the best way to start this track, but then the acoustic guitar and beautiful vocals of Wilson crash in and we are back to old school Porcupine Tree stuff. The title track then evolves into a wonderful piece of progressive music, featuring crystal clear guitar solos, impressive melodies, emotive vocals, and a beautiful saxophone melody at the end. So, there you have it; The Overview is a breathtaking album - although it is way TOO short - that pushes the boundaries of what I expected from Wilson. It is sonically rich (listen to it with your headphones and the album is even better), emotionally extraordinarily complex (check out the lyrics) and conceptually brilliant. For me, with The Overview Steven Wilson has returned to his progressive rock roots and the album is indeed doing overtime in my CD player. Play it LOUD and you will be amazed as I think that The Overview will be remembered, honoured, and appreciated as a significant moment in Wilson's already storied career; the highest score without any doubt!! ***** Martien Koolen (edited by Dave Smith) Where to buy? |
