In Absentia (Porcupine Tree)

Being a drummer for the last 20+ years I eagerly seek out new and interesting music. Porcupine Tree has been around since the 90's but with this album they have created a masterpiece. Admittedly I'm a little late to the Tree party but I am so glad I discovered them. The writing. The craftsmanship. The atmospherics. The mood. This album has it all. Steven Wilson's immense talent comes to the fore on every song. Just incredible creativity. Gavin Harrison's ridiculous drumming takes aim at Neil Pearts king of prog rock drumming throne. Even Danny Carey is a fan. Colin Edwin's inventive bass playing and his clean tone represent an understated sense of calm amid at times a firestorm of energy. And Richard Barbieri's keyboard and sense of mood and dynamics sit just right in songs that sweep the current along. All four guys clicking into one unified purpose. To create art for arts sake. Not for personal triumph. These guys are musical artists. Phenominal. Buy this record. Then buy the next on... Read more

Public radio disgusts me. How can these guys have 12 albums out and I don't hear about them until I get XM? This is some of the best music I've heard in a long time.

I'm a huge Pink Floyd fan, as well as a fan of 90s grunge and thrash metal, and it has been difficult to find another artist that sounds similar to Floyd. Then I installed the Pandora app on my phone and logically created a Pink Floyd station. To my surprise, I heard "Prodigal" from this album, and my ears perked up. Can I explain the parallels between PF and PT? Not with any great deal of accuracy. But I do hear similarities. Steve Wilson's soft vocals ala David Gilmour? Maybe that's what it is. Occasional acoustic interludes? Perhaps. Soaring guitar solos? Ambient soundscapes? Slide guitar? Concept albums? Infrequent but intriguing use of a mellotron or Hammond Organ? Sure, why not. Regardless, "In Absentia" was my first exposure to PT, and I have since ordered 5 more: the Delirium Years, Fear of a Blank Planet, Deadwing, Nil Recording, and Lightbulb Sun. I also ordered the live concert DVD, and plan on trying to pick up the 5.1 surround mixes of those albums which are available i... Read more

For anyone that is on the fence about buying this album, you are in for a tremendous treat. Everything that I've read about it in other positive reviews rings true. It is PTs finest hour (Even though i liked their follow-up album "Deadwing" better personally, this album is the better one) This concept album exists in a world of its own once you delve in it and open yourself up to its concepts, music, lyrics and ideas in general. It is a conceptual piece that is mostly about mental illness and serial killers with the exeption of maybe 2 tracks. Stephen Wilson outdid himself on this one. Pink Floyd has a modern contender to take their torch as the premier concept-album prog-space-psychedelic rock band of all time. Wilson might not have quite the virtuosity of David Gilmour in expressive soloing and singing voice, but he comes close. If you like art rock in any form then this is essential listening. I don't give albums 5 stars lightly and this album grows on me more over time as I unravel... Read more

Hello !! Porcupine Tree's music is so very different. They have their very own style, which is SUPERB !! This album (IN ABSENTIA) is so great!! Don't hesitate in getting it, you will love this music. Heavy riffs by Steven Wilson in this album are extremely good, melodic, rhythmic and well placed. Mood changes within the songs are magnificent. But don't misjudge PT as a metal band, because they're not. Steven Wilson includes metal-like riffs in many of PT's songs, but songs are usually calm and very enjoyable ! To me it's like a prog-metal, vintage-rock style music. Drums by Gavin Harrison... what can I say... extreme, complex, and beautifully performed. Mr. Harrison is a really awsome example of what can be a accomplished as a top drummer, with a relatively small (but fine) rig. He apparently doesn't need super-large rigs (as the ones played by Dream Theater's Mike Portnoy, with all due respect to Mike who is, at least to me, the world's best drummer). Mr. Barbieri... Read more