steven wilson

Blackfield

Lullaby

Blackfield - Lullaby

As previously announced the forthcoming vinyl compilation LP “Transience" will feature a new recording of Lazarus, originally recorded by Porcupine Tree for the “Deadwing" album in 2004.  

To mark the release of this new version you can listen to my original demo of the song.  This was actually the first of two demos I made of Lazarus, and it features a very different middle 8, subsequently rewritten for the second demo and final album recording.  

Lazarus was one of several songs that were based on a film script that I was working on at the time with my friend Mike Bennion, and the David mentioned in the song is a central character in that script. 

Lazarus (first demo) performed by SW at No Man’s Land, December 2003.

Lazarus (Demo)

DEFORM TO FORM A STAR (live in London)

NO PART OF ME (live in London)

Written in 2001 for a planned metal style collaboration with Mikael Åkerfeldt, this song has been revisited several times since, but I could never really make it fit the style of whatever I was doing at the time.  In the meantime the album with Mike finally happened, but in a completely different style to the album we planned 10 years ago (it's coming out in April).  So finally here is the orphan song Cut Ribbon - this is the latest version from the 2010/2011 Grace For Drowning sessions.  Gavin Harrison on drums (recorded in 2008), all other instruments SW.  

Cut Ribbon

To The Bone

Song Of I (feat. Sophie Hunger)

Refuge

Last Day Of June

Accept

The Last Day Of June

I found this on an old computer - it's a demo for either the In Absentia or Deadwing albums, something that never got used - I can't be totally sure because while it shares lyrical themes with the songs on In Absentia, one of the melodies seems to relate to another piece from Deadwing era.  I don't remember too much about it, other than I guess it wasn't good enough to get any further than this.  Rescued from the abyss, so I only have a compressed audio file of this one, sorry about that.

Godfearing (demo 2001-03?)

25 years ago today, on the 4th December 1993, Porcupine Tree made its first ever live appearance at the Nag's Head in High Wycombe, UK.  By then 2 albums and an EP had been released under the name (and a third one was half finished), all of which gave the impression that Porcupine Tree was a band, when in fact it was a solo project, just me messing about in my bedroom studio, although Colin and Richard had both guested on one song each on Up the Downstair released earlier that year. Positive press and a growing fanbase had led to increased pressure for live appearances, so in late 1993 I asked 3 brilliant musicians I knew, Colin Edwin (from my home town of Hemel Hempstead), Richard Barbieri and Chris Maitland (both of whom had played with my other band No-Man) to join me in forming a real band line up of the project. For some reason they all agreed, and on the strength of the buzz about the project, Richard Allen at my then record company Delerium managed to book this show, as well as 2 others and a BBC radio session.  After one week of rehearsals this was our first ever gig in front of an audience, performing a 7 song, 70 minute set in a backroom of a pub to about 200 people that had traveled from all over the country.  The first song played was Voyage 34. which you can find elsewhere on the web, but here is a mixing desk recording of the second song Always Never.  This would have also been the first time I had sung in front of an audience, at least since the days of my various school bands, so I can only imagine now how nervous I must have been at the prospect!  

The rest, as they say, is history...

PORCUPINE TREE - Always Never(Nags Head 4/12/1993)

These 5 songs were originally included as part of a special 3 disc hardback book edition of Insurgentes released on my own label Headphone Dust a few months prior to KScope issuing the standard version. I had around 25 songs in total from the recording sessions, several of which were dropped because they didn't measure up (some of the other leftover pieces are now released on the Insurgentes film DVD), but I felt these 5 songs were as good as the album material, so it wasn't for lack of quality that I left them off, more to do with context and not wanting the album to be too long as a listening experience.  Instead they were included on a separate CD only available with the special edition (and later on vinyl releases).  The whole idea of the special edition was to experiment with doing something really special with the packaging that took advantage of the multi-media aspect of the project (film, photos, music), and to sell only online.  They were very expensive to make and could only be printed as a one-off edition, so I had to guess at how many to make - even then I became so convinced that I wasn't going to be able to sell them that I priced is such that I basically lost money with every copy sold.  Later on I found myself wondering if the small minority that still complained that they had been "ripped off" in only getting a CD, a CD EP, a DVD, and a ten by ten 128 page clothbound full colour book for their £34 were the same people that later sold their copy on eBay for 10 times what they paid for it.  Anyway, I digress....  Here for those that missed out on the special edition, are the bonus Insurgentes songs in full resolution WAVs, enjoy! Best, S

Puncture Wound

Collecting Space

These 5 songs were originally included as part of a special 3 disc hardback book edition of Insurgentes released on my own label Headphone Dust a few months prior to KScope issuing the standard version. I had around 25 songs in total from the recording sessions, several of which were dropped because they didn't measure up (some of the other leftover pieces are now released on the Insurgentes film DVD), but I felt these 5 songs were as good as the album material, so it wasn't for lack of quality that I left them off, more to do with context and not wanting the album to be too long as a listening experience.  Instead they were included on a separate CD only available with the special edition (and later on vinyl releases).  The whole idea of the special edition was to experiment with doing something really special with the packaging that took advantage of the multi-media aspect of the project (film, photos, music), and to sell only online.  They were very expensive to make and could only be printed as a one-off edition, so I had to guess at how many to make - even then I became so convinced that I wasn't going to be able to sell them, that I priced is such that I basically lost money with every copy sold! Later on I found myself wondering if the small minority that still complained that they had been "ripped off" in only getting a CD, a CD EP, a DVD, and a ten by ten 128 page clothbound full colour book for their £34 were the same people that later sold their copy on eBay for 10 times what they paid for it.  Anyway, I digress....  Here for those that missed out on the special edition, are the bonus Insurgentes songs in full resolution WAVs, enjoy! Best, S


Insurgentes Mexico

The 78

NEW 2 DISC SET FROM PORCUPINE TREE FEATURING ‘THE INCIDENT’ LIVE FROM CHICAGO

The past year has been a busy period for the various members of Porcupine Tree. Steven Wilson is currently gathering rave reviews for his solo records and accompanying tours and also embarked on a rare tour with No-Man, Richard Barbieri has released an acclaimed album with Steve Hogarth from Marillion, Gavin Harrison has continued is successful partnership with 05Ric and Colin Edwin has being working on a solo record along with a new album from his Metallic Taste of Blood project.

Despite all this activity, fans of the band have still been clamouring for a new Porcupine Tree release. This wait ends on November 19th with the release of Octane Twisted¸ a double disc live set recorded during the tour that supported The Incident, the band's most recent album.

The Incident went top 30 in both the UK and USA, and the world tour climaxed with sold out shows at Royal Albert Hall in London and Radio City Music Hall in New York.

The album marked another step forward in the incredible journey of the band from a solo studio project created by Steven Wilson in the late eighties to a grammy nominated act and one of the world’s most revered live band.

Octane Twisted features the album in its entirety recorded in Chicago. The second CD contains 5 tracks classic PT tracks also recorded in Chicago along with 3 highlights from the band's landmark show at Royal Albert Hall.

A special edition of Octane Twisted will also be available which will include a DVD of the Chicago show.

Tracklist

CD1 
The Incident
Chicago
Occam’s Razor 
The Blind House 
Great Expectations 
Kneel and Disconnect 
Drawing the Line 
The Incident 
Your Unpleasant Family 
The Yellow Windows of the Evening Train 
Time Flies 
Degree Zero of Liberty 
Octane Twisted 
The Séance 
Circle of Manias 
I Drive the Hearse

CD2
Hatesong
Russia On Ice / The Pills I’m Taking
Stars Die
Bonnie The Cat
Even Less
Dislocated Day
Arriving Somewhere But Not Here

All tracks were recorded at The Riviera, Chicago, 30th April 2010, except CD2 tracks 5-7 recorded at the Royal Albert Hall, London, 14th October 2010.

DVD (a video of The Riviera, Chicago concert): 
The Incident: 
1.	Occam's Razor 
2.	The Blind House 
3.	Great Expectations 
4.	Kneel And Disconnect 
5.	Drawing The Line 
6.	The Incident 
7.	Your Unpleasant Family 
8.	The Yellow Windows Of The Evening Train 
9.	Time Flies 
10.	Degree Zero Of Liberty 
11.	Octane Twisted 
12.	The Seance 
13.	Circle Of Manias 
14.	I Drive The Hearse

For more information on Octane Twisted, check out the mini-site at www.kscopemusic.com/porcupinetree

Order Kscope albums

Porcupine Tree - I Drive The Hearse (from Octane Twisted)

An extended 6 minute version that was previously released as part of the "Blackfield" digital download single, but I think only in mp3 form (as usual this is full resolution WAV). Blackfield's third album is due for release in March, and there is now a facebook page dedicated to the band at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Blackfield/103704446366593

BLACKFIELD (extended)

NEW 2 DISC SET FROM PORCUPINE TREE FEATURING ‘THE INCIDENT’ LIVE FROM CHICAGO

Here's 'Dislocated Day', recorded at the Royal Albert Hall show, taken from disc 2 of Octane Twisted (originally featured on the 1995 The Sky Moves Sideways album)

The past year has been a busy period for the various members of Porcupine Tree. Steven Wilson is currently gathering rave reviews for his solo records and accompanying tours and also embarked on a rare tour with No-Man, Richard Barbieri has released an acclaimed album with Steve Hogarth from Marillion, Gavin Harrison has continued is successful partnership with 05Ric and Colin Edwin has being working on a solo record along with a new album from his Metallic Taste of Blood project.

Despite all this activity, fans of the band have still been clamouring for a new Porcupine Tree release. This wait ends on November 19th with the release of Octane Twisted¸ a double disc live set recorded during the tour that supported The Incident, the band's most recent album.

The Incident went top 30 in both the UK and USA, and the world tour climaxed with sold out shows at Royal Albert Hall in London and Radio City Music Hall in New York.

The album marked another step forward in the incredible journey of the band from a solo studio project created by Steven Wilson in the late eighties to a grammy nominated act and one of the world’s most revered live band.

Octane Twisted features the album in its entirety recorded in Chicago. The second CD contains 5 tracks classic PT tracks also recorded in Chicago along with 3 highlights from the band's landmark show at Royal Albert Hall.

To order your copy from the Kscope store, go to:
www.burningshed.com/store/kscope/product/272/4174/

Or to download from iTunes, go to: http://smarturl.it/PTiTunes

Tracklist

CD1 
The Incident
Chicago
Occam’s Razor 
The Blind House 
Great Expectations 
Kneel and Disconnect 
Drawing the Line 
The Incident 
Your Unpleasant Family 
The Yellow Windows of the Evening Train 
Time Flies 
Degree Zero of Liberty 
Octane Twisted 
The Séance 
Circle of Manias 
I Drive the Hearse

CD2
Hatesong
Russia On Ice / The Pills I’m Taking
Stars Die
Bonnie The Cat
Even Less
Dislocated Day
Arriving Somewhere But Not Here

All tracks were recorded at 
The Riviera, Chicago, 30th April 2010 except CD2 tracks 5-7 recorded at the Royal Albert Hall, London, 14th October 2010.

For more information on Porcupine Tree visit: www.kscopemusic.com/porcupinetree

Kscope Store

Porcupine Tree - Dislocated Day (from Octane Twisted disc 2)

PERSONAL SHOPPER

Blackfield - Cloudy Now (from Blackfield)

Press quotes for Blackfield:

'Go out and buy it - you won't be disappointed'
Classic Rock Society

'hypnotically effective'
FOUR STARS Classic Rock

'Glorious, epic, classic rock'
Designer Magazine

'a terrific album'
6/7 Metal Hammer (Germany)

'another strike of genius from Steven Wilson'
Album of the Month, Eclipsed (Germany)

'this is as close to a modern classic rock disc as I've seen in a while.'
musictap.net

'simply stunning... one of the best albums of 2004'
FIVE STARS ytsejam.com

'It's a bloody masterpiece'
Brave Words (Canada)

For information, audio samples, downloads and more, go to: http://www.kscopemusic.com/blackfield

Buy Blackfield albums at: http://www.burningshed.com/store/kscope

steven wilson

Hanneke De Bruijn