In Absentia

( 8 )

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Bradley Torreano
Continuing in the growing commercial vein of their previous releases, Porcupine Tree's In Absentia may be the most accessible release to ever spew forth from the group. Rolling electronic percussion blends with simple and solid live drumming to provide an understated backbeat as perennial Tree leader Steven Wilson pastes his complicated pop over the proceedings. Wilson's ability to bury his layered vocals in mountains of spacy electric guitar without drowning out his fragile lyrics is still a valued feature of the music, and the rare moments of clarity that his vocals display are breathtaking in their power. A reliance on a somewhat gothic heavy metal sound makes for ...
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Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Bradley Torreano
Continuing in the growing commercial vein of their previous releases, Porcupine Tree's In Absentia may be the most accessible release to ever spew forth from the group. Rolling electronic percussion blends with simple and solid live drumming to provide an understated backbeat as perennial Tree leader Steven Wilson pastes his complicated pop over the proceedings. Wilson's ability to bury his layered vocals in mountains of spacy electric guitar without drowning out his fragile lyrics is still a valued feature of the music, and the rare moments of clarity that his vocals display are breathtaking in their power. A reliance on a somewhat gothic heavy metal sound makes for some bizarre moments, especially when held up against his gentler material. The best example of this is the chugging "Wedding Nails," which recalls Dream Theater in its grandiose scope without utilizing the same sort of technical wizardry. But Wilson manages to bridge the gap between the various genres he utilizes, creating an environment where his haunting melodies could take a drastic turn at any minute. Porcupine Tree also continue their Radiohead fascination, although the influence is much less direct than on their last few efforts. Instead, it comes through at odd intervals, like the moments of sparse instrumentation on the otherwise lush "Heartattack in a Lay By." Sonically gorgeous and deceivingly complex, In Absentia has the most immediate appeal of anything Wilson has released under this moniker up to this point. By keeping the songs at manageable lengths and avoiding the avant-garde electronica flourishes of the band's early days, Porcupine Tree has grown into a fully realized pop group without cutting any of the elements that also make them an important force in the neo-prog movement.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 9/24/2002
  • Label: Lava
  • UPC: 075678360428
  • Catalog Number: 83604
  • Sales rank: 10,961

Tracks

Disc 1
  1. 1 Blackest Eyes (4:23)
  2. 2 Trains (5:57)
  3. 3 Lips of Ashes (4:39)
  4. 4 The Sound of Muzak (4:59)
  5. 5 Gravity Eyelids (7:57)
  6. 6 Wedding Nails (6:34)
  7. 7 Prodigal (5:32)
  8. 8 3 (5:26)
  9. 9 The Creator Has a Mastertape (5:21)
  10. 10 Heartattack in a Lay By (4:16)
  11. 11 Strip the Soul (7:22)
  12. 12 Collapse the Light into Earth (5:54)
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Album Credits

Performance Credits
Porcupine Tree Primary Artist
John Wesley Guitar, Background Vocals
Mark Berrow Violin
Ben Cruft Violin
Rita Manning Violin
Johnathan Rees Violin
Dave Woodcock Violin
Gavyn Wright Violin
Katherine Shave Violin
Paul Willey Violin
Boguslaw Kostecki Violin
Jackie Shave Violin
Julian Leaper Violin
Everton Nelson Violin
Rebecca Hirsch Violin
Warren Zielinski Violin
Kate Musker Viola
Peter Lale Viola
Bruce White Viola
Chris Laurence Double Bass
Mary Scully Double Bass
Martin Loveday Celli
Tony Pleeth Celli
David Daniels [cello] Cello
Technical Credits
David Gregory Arranger
Steven Wilson Producer
Paul Northfield Engineer
Richard Barbieri Contributor
Gavin Harrison Contributor
Colin Edwin Contributor
Andy VanDette Mastering
Gavyn Wright Orchestra Leader
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 5
( 8 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(7)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(1)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

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Sort by: Showing all of 8 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    lovely

    a absolutly lovely cd

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Can't stop listening to Porcupine Tree's latest

    A CD you'll want to listen to over and over again. Don't buy this if you expect music to conform to a specific style of rock or sound like the boring repetition you hear on the radio. Beautifully constructed songs - Wow!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Steve Wilson Will Guide Us Through...

    A thoughtful applause to one of the only bands helping keep my faith, in these seemingly empty days, of our own exsistence. PORCUPINE TREE finally has appeared to the growing masses of searching souls, With a brilliant, Yet familiar next step into the P. T. history. ABSENTIA will flow into your mind, with a martyr's passion of truth and distained beauty. With a true heart for Prog / Psych music, I feel the most important track on this new masterpiece is the song "The Sound Of Muzak" for it's ever so true statement, of our present place in todays music scenery. I live, I breath, and will always sit up next to TREE!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

    "In Absentia" is Pure "song writing BRILLIANCE" from start to finish.It will musically take you where you've never been,and you won't be disappointed.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Great music

    I am a 56 year old woman who loves Porcupine Tree! They are increcibly gifted musicians and performers. And, Steve Wilson can turn out some of the most fantastic lyrics (bent though they may be). The latest CD, In Absentia, is their best one yet--although Lightbulb Sun has so many good tracks on it, it's hard to decide. However, give 2 or 3 listens to In Absentia, and you'll be hooked. What's even better--they sound just as good live.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Another Porcupine Tree Masterpiece

    Who would have thought that they could top The Lightbulb Sun? But, they have. This CD shows that major record label signing has not diminished the artistic genius of this band. Just listen to it 5 times and try to restrain yourself from going out and getting the entire back catalog!!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 7, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 5, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 8 Customer Reviews