Customer Reviews

Metanoia

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've read some of the displeased comments of fans regarding Metanoia in parts because it isn't as song based as "Stupid Dream" or "Lightbulb Sun" and this is correct, there's not much structure as in the previously mentioned albums.

That is to be expected if put into perspective. On Metanoia we hear Porcupine Tree improvising and fleshing out material. To a great extent we get an inside look to the creative process that went into "Signify" as much of this music is from the recording sessions.

Fans of earlier Porcupine Tree albums, in particular "The Sky Moves Sideway" will be more interested in this album. Many of the moments from that album, it's ambience particularly on the last couple of tracks would fit well on this CD.

As a listener I have taken two approaches to Metanoia. I've listened to it as background music and unlike ambient or insipid "easy listening" these tracks melt into the background. Sometimes you stop what you are doing and the music catches you. It's easy to continue with what you did but you know there is something behind the ambience you hear. The second approach is sitting down, concentrating and listening. To some degree this is nearly impossible. Personally, I drift off when listening to Metanoia. The music is somewhat repetitive at times but there are details within the grooves and ambiences that are there for the discovering. This is an album that rewards listeners with small moments within larger amorphous structures.

For people who enjoy song based music it's probably a good idea to pass on Metanoia. For people that like improvisation this is appealing although mostly subdued. In part this is why I haven't reviewed individual songs. The music simply flows and undulates. There are dynamics in these songs but they are more about atmosphere and sonic textural explorations.

Metanoia achives the bridge between ambient and groove Eno has been trying for the last few years and does a better job of integrating the two. Great sound quality, interesting interactions between the rhythm section and the keyboard and guitar textures. My parting thought; think Pink Floyd meets ambient electronica, or what they call dark ambient this week :) Or consider this NEU! meets Pink Floyd at top form.

During the last 15 month or so, Porcupine Tree's record labels decided to release a string of albums and EP singles, including two compilation, limited editions, and some obscure material, so it has become increasingly difficult even for dedicated fans to follow the band's course. I'm not quite sure if Steve Wilson is happy about the cash-in strategy of his former record labels (he has recently signed to Atlantic Records), but I certainly appreciate the fact that so many PT records are now made available for a wider public. The sticker on the front cover of „Metanoia" tells us that the improvisations on this disc, which vary in length from 4 ½ to more than 14 minutes, were recorded live during the „Signify" studio sessions, so my expectations were quite high; firstly, „Signify" was a magical album from start to finish and features some of the band's best work, secondly, I've always been a fan of the band's live sound, and thirdly, I find it interesting to listen to a work in progress. Great conditions, so what went wrong? Although PT are certainly no strangers to the idea of jamming along in concert and studio - with excellent results as documented on the „Coma Divine" live album and the b-sides collection „Recordings" - the approach on „Metanoia" often feels very monotonous, with minimal variation in arrangements, tempos, and moods throughout the 65-minute disc. Sure, the musicianship on „Metanoia" is excellent as always since Barbieri's warm electronic undercurrents mesh effortlessly with Maitland's crisp drumming, Edwin's slap bass, and Wilson's sonic excursions, but it's the lack of recognizable tunes and the high level of repetition that sabotages many of the tracks here; in contrast to other PT improvisations, like „Cure for optimism" and „Untitled", much of „Metanoia" is entirely unmemorable and comes across as a series of rather pointless ambient interludes and meandering noodlings. In my opinion, the three-part suite „Mesmer" is the most engaging material on this disc, alternating between tightly constructed, rhythm-oriented parts and wonderfully atmospheric sections which primarily derive from laid-back guitar textures and spacey synth sounds. The 13-minute „Mesmer III/Coma Divine" is a little more experimental than its companion pieces and works particularly well as it moves from a somewhat chaotic and harrowing collage of vocal samples to disturbing guitar atmospherics (not a million miles away from the solo work of Robert Fripp) and finally to beautifully evolving synth/guitar textures with some de-facto melodies. It's not quite in the same league as PT's best material, but respectable `chill-out music' nontheless. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the 14-minute „Metanoia I/Intermediate Jesus", which grows stale very quickly because there's no dynamic movement in the instrumentation. The shorter piece „Door to the river" also repeat the formula of ponderous anti-rhythms and directionless guitar/bass snippets without noticeable changes, while the 11-minute „Metanoia II" and „Insignificance" manage to introduce a few nice guitar effects and faster rhythms towards the end. However, there simply isn't enough going on here to make this album (unlike many other PT releases) a regular in my CD player: Too much filler exists, and although the sound quality is remarkably mature for a bunch of half-finished recordings, there's very little here which displays Wilson's songwriting capabilities and his flair for dramatic compositions and deeply delivered lyrics. Thus, „Metanoia" is probably left best for converted PT fans who favor the band's early, spaced-out phase to the more song-oriented format that would dominate their recent records. My advice: Make sure that you own every other commercially available PT album before buying „Metanoia".

I enjoy listening to this while talking on the phone or playing on the computer. It's sort- of neat background music that doesn't distract your attention much. Every now and then a synthesizer part will "bust- loose" and catch your attention, but for the most part the music here drifts in the back of your consciousness and is quite relaxing. This is actually quite uncarachteristic of Porcupine Tree music which commands strict attention (not that that's a bad thing!) Chris Maitland's drumming on here is exquisite (as always!) Love the fretless bass of Colin Edwin and Steven's Keys and guitar parts soar at times. Miss Richard, though ,and his mellotron on some of these tracks! I wouldn't consider this "essential" but to me, a die- hard fan, I am glad that I own it.

_Metanoia_ is essential if you like this kind of thing. This is a proto-_Signify_ recording (from the same sessions), which has Porcupine Tree experimenting in the studio with spacey jams to flesh out their ideas and sonics. It might be different from what most Porcupine Tree fans are used to, especially if they are primarily familiar with their more recent song-based material.

_Metanoia_ may be outtakes, but personally I think these improvs are very successful and compelling. Spacey guitars and synths, Colin Edwin's hypnotic fretless basslines, and Chris Maitland nuance-filled, tricky drumming are merged into a Floydian soup of aural delight. Also remarkable is the band's emphatic mindset towards creating -- it's all improvised, after all. The songs are long and gaseous, only occasionally suggesting forward movement, but intuitively developing tension or dynamics or atmosphere with great expertise. Sometimes if an album like this goes on for 60 minutes, it can be tiresome. However, Porcupine Tree keeps it from dragging or putting you to sleep, simply because the sonic rapture of this set is so absorbing. Some of the most sublime PT moments are found here, minus the final track "Milan" which is just two minutes of people talking about frivolous things (I'm not sure why it's there, and the album would be better without it).

It's very easy to lay back in the dark with headphones and become lost in this expansive, lush document. And Edwin's bass is soooo mesmerizing. Some people would have no interest in this kind of thing, but I think it is a highly valuable part of my PT collection. It works as a chemical-free way to trip out or as cosmic lovemaking music for astronauts.

For those who lament that recent Porcupine Tree albums have moved toward a more song-oriented structure, "Metanoia" is the cure for what ails. Recorded during sessions for "Signify," this album full of improvisations never fails to impress. Of particular note is the muscular and rhythmic team of Colin Edwin and the now-departed Chris Maitland. Worth your time.

I have only become a Porcupine Tree fan over the last 2 years, initially turned on by the Deadwing CD. I just love this band. They are THE Best thing in Progressive Rock music today. I would honestly give this album 3 and 1/2 Stars, but 4 Stars will help the low average. As other people have described it, it is kinda "chill-out" music. If you know anything about the history of this band, especially it's founder, Steven Wilson, you will understand why this release makes since in the Porcupine Tree world. (go to wikapedia:Porcupine Tree for more info)

Steven Wilson began doing "experimental music" for himself. This first step led to an official release of his demos on cassette way back in the early 90's. Then he was urged to put a real band together. That first band included the members of Chris Maitland (drums), Colin Edwards (bass), and Richard Barberi (synthsisers) who have played with him for over a decade. The tracks on this disc are simply demos and Jam sessions by the band recorded in 1995/96 for the Signify album. Be warned: there are No lyrics, all instrumental tracks. In fact, the only voices are in studio banter between the musicians and a little bit of "taped" radio voices a la Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" and "Dark Side of the Moon".

Like a lot of people, I really like the In Absentia album, Deadwing, and Stupid Dream. There is much more straight ahead hard rock on these albums and less of the psychedelic offerings of Steven's earlier work.

But, the bottom line is, it's still Porcupine Tree. And I'm glad I have it. Every fan should purchase every Porcupine Tree offering so as to tell the band and the Record label "We Love These Guys", "Keep giving them the money to keep making Great Music for US!"

I do read all the reviews, and have been hesitant to purchase On The Sunday of Life, based on the realization it is even more "experimental" than this. I have the 2-disc Stars Die Collection, and have been told that the best of the early tracks are on it, so, for now, I'm satisfied. But, the Snapper releases always sound great and are quite a bargain. I just couldn't justify NOT picking this up for the paltry $12 price. Always support Your Band, and if you don't have it (or know about it) the 2006 DVD release entitled Arriving Somewhere... is EXCELLANT. You must get that also. You will not regret it.

I know prog music is going thru an upswing of lately with the Flower Kings, Spock's Beard, Transatlantic and other new groups. As good as they all are, Porcupine Tree is the most inventive, and intriguing of all the new prog groups. The newly (2003) revised and expanded "Coma Divine" and "Signify" albums are both amazing.

This band (despite their protestations) does sound like Pink Floyd would have sounded if (a)Roger Waters had not left, (b) David Gilmour had kept some piss in his playing, and, (c) they had aproached each new album as a challenge to write a new "Dark Side of the Moon".

"Metanoia" is about an hour's worth of studio jams and improvs during the recording of "Signify" but they are played beautifully and are rarely boring. Get this along with the expanded (2 CDs) versions of "Signify" and "Coma Divine" and you will forget the last twenty years of Pink Floyd history.

If you're like most people reading PT reviews, you're here because you loved the brilliant In Absentia and you want to try more. This is probably not what you're looking for, being entirely made up of spacey instrumental jams, with some annoying and way-too-long "radio" playing and an annoying and way-too-long "interview" sort of thing at the end.

In Absentia fans should move straight on to the Stars Die compilation, featuring the amazing 20-minute "The Sky Moves Sideways" (phase 1.) Stars Die is two fully-loaded CD's of great Prog-rock (apologies to Mr Wilson but that's what it is, and there's no shame in that.)

PT is a great band and well worth getting into. This just probably isn't the place to start, although Ozric Tentacles fans would like this, at times it's a dead-ringer.

I sort of enjoy this release, and as the other reviewer mentioned it makes for pretty good chilled out background music. I do however feel that Attention Deficit set a benchmark for jam session collections with their self titled album, and that comparatively this release just lacks in overall delivery. There's just not enough going on on this album to get me excited, it's all just too...polite. Porcupine tree is a great band and they are a supremely talented bunch of blokes, but be advised that this is WAY different to what they normally do and should be approached with a very OPEN mind and a large tumbler of your favourite chill-out drink. (or a fat double blader if you're so inclined...)

THis is definitely one of their worst albums. Its not bad but its also not good. Here we have intrumentals or better say jams during their masterpiece Signify. Well its like a background music to a film with a lot of ambient music. Its like taking drugs this album. Well its too much and nothing really memorable. If you are new to Porcupine tree this is the last album to begin with. Start with Sognify and Lightbulb sun.