Further Proof Of PT's Talent
Porcupine Tree have been around for many years, so one would expect the band to be able to hold their own on stage, but tonight at the London Forum they manage to blow the whole crowd away. With the show packed to the rafters and the crowd content after watching Anathema, the mood in the air is one of excitement. Porcupine Tree may very well be one of the best-kept secrets of the UK music scene.
Having recently released their new EP Nil Recurring, the set is obviously biased towards it- however at only four tracks long, there is ample room for songs from many of their releases. The set kicks off with "What Happens Now?", a melodic, drifting piece that builds the anticipation of the crowd effortlessly. Now, in most cases, a crowd standing perfectly still would be somewhat of an insult for the band, but this is not the case with Porcupine Tree. The crowd watches, barely moving, but all eyes are glued to the stage and the actions of Steve Wilson and co, whilst ears seek out every scrap of music they can find. It's true that Porcupine Tree attract an older, more mature crowd, but it doesn't lessen the enjoyment or the atmosphere in the slightest. The band are performing at their best tonight, and the moody atmosphere radiating from the stage reaches melting point as "What Happens Now?" gathers momentum.
It's followed by one of the highlights and album opener of their 2002 album In Absentia, 'Blackest Eyes'. The song has similarities with some of Silverchair's work, mainly from the upbeat tune and infectious lyrics, but there's a darker thread running through the song, clearly heard with Wilson's emotive singing. What the crowd lacks in movement, they certainly make up for in noise for the song receives a thunderous applause as the final notes ring out. Next up is "The Sound of Musak", driven by pained vocals and the kind of rhythm most bands can only dream of. It's a painfully relevant song, even more so today than when it was written. There's something for everyone lurking in this song- the guitar solo is expertly handled and the rhythm section is flawless.
From there, Porcupine Tree slow the pace down a little with "Lazarus", a beautiful piano-driven song that highlights Wilson's unique voice and brings Colin Edwin's basswork to the fore. It's a touching moment, as the crowd happily sings along.
However, the real highlight of the set is the monster of a centrepiece in the latest album, Fear of a Dark Planet. "Anesthetise", which slides from the magical to menacing as effortlessly in the way only Porcupine Tree can manage. Clocking in at almost 18 minutes on record, it is reasonable to assume that such a song would grow tiring, yet with the diverse rage of styles found within its gloomy mood but it is infact a very exciting song to listen to. Having been treated to a condensed version of the song when Porcupine Tree played the second stage of Download earlier this year, it is refreshing to hear the song in its entirety.
The band also delve further into their back catalogue with the inclusion of 'Waiting' from The Delirium Years and 'Open Car', with its tense and emotional chorus and razor-sharp guitars.
The band finish their set with the dramatic and sensual "Way Out Here" and "Sleep Together" both from the FOADP album, but the almighty roar of approval from the crowd brings the band back for an encore- starting with "The Sky Moves Sideways", which hasn't been played on UK shores for around 10 years. It's a beautiful moment and many smiles light up the venue from the devoted fans who have followed the band from their humble beginnings. To leave the whole crowd happy, the band then launch into "Trains" for another joyous singalong, finally finishing on the powerful "Halo" with its driving bassline and deft drumwork- another song that proves Porcupine Tree's knack of creating songs with the kind of hooks to become lodged in your head for days.
Overall, it's another outstanding set from one of the hidden gems of the modern prog genre, and a night that was over all too soon for the fans gathered at the Forum.