Steven Wilson: 'Insurgentes'
As the voice and multi instrumentalist for Porcupine Tree, Steven Wilson has received much acclaim for his creative prowess and ingenuity in the progressive genre. Stepping out on his own for the first time, 'Insurgentes' proves just how much vision and talent one man can have. Easily accessible it certainly is not, but with it being such a deeply diverse album, every second invested is undoubtedly worth it.
With a staggering ninety nine individual tracks, first impressions of the album are somewhat overwhelming. Despite there only being ten titled songs, each is separated into ten movements, giving the album an intimidating appearance. Opener 'Harmony Korine' sets the scene magnificently, its beautifully intricate and haunting guitar giving way to Wilson's equally haunting voice. The track builds up, almost palpably, to it's climax of distorted guitar and soaring vocals, setting the scene with stunning effect. An epic introduction to an album of epic proportion.
And what an album. 'Abandoner' expertly maintains the intensity captured by it's predecessor, although swapping the overdriven effects for an almost techno – influenced drum beat. Wilson's mellow yet mournful vocals glide above the simple melody, only for an industrial wall of noise to close out the track. It is impossible to predict such a shift in diameters, but the end result is nothing more than superb. This is very much the case in 'No Twilight Within The Courts Of The Sun'. Opening with a jazz influenced bass line and sporadic guitar intonations, it moves to become an offbeat guitar driven jam session with expertly deployed solos over an atmospheric backdrop, eventually giving way to Wilson's intense voice and piano at the close. 'Get All You Deserve' is also an unpredictable masterpiece, entering with an adept piano introduction complimented with delighfully chilling vocals. It almost as if the song mutates, synth sounds and eventually overdriven guitar adding to it's energy until it departs once again in an industrial wall of noise.
To write progressive music in itself is no easy feat, and for Wilson to create tracks that seemingly breathe and evolve for themselves is nothing short of astounding. After such a magnificent journey of an album he closes with title track 'Insurgentes', and it is simply stunning. The delicate vocals layered amongst insistent piano chords and a beautiful koto riff conjure an almost euphoric feeling, with the album fading out to leave nothing but astounded silence. There is nothing to do but sit and soak it all in, until the compulsion to listen through again takes hold.
With the pedigree and reputation involved in it's making, 'Insurgentes' was always likely to be a very adept, effective album. In reality it is nothing short of a masterpiece, with tracks that are as individual, unpredictable and insightful as it is possible to get. Steven Wilson has managed to allow every track, even every movement, to have it's own individuality yet still maintain that characteristic and masterful touch of his, a marvellous achievement on something so complex and sophisticated as this.
Words: Dan Grose
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