Porcupine Tree - The Sky Moves Sideways (1995), Progressive Rock/Psychedelic/Space Rock (D7) Options

[StabWound]

(IMG:http://metalarea.org/images/audiocovers/2009_Jul/acov_tid89670_thumb.jpeg)

*Artist: Porcupine Tree

*Album: The Sky Moves Sideways

*Year: 1995
*Genre: Progressive Rock/Psychedelic/Space Rock
*Country: United Kingdom (IMG:http://metalarea.org/forum/style_images/flags/United%20Kingdom.png)
*Format: flac@666kbps
*Size: 291MB

Tracklist:
"The Sky Moves Sideways Phase 1"
1. "The Colour of Air" – 4:39
2. "I Find That I'm Not There" – 3:47
3. "Wire the Drum" – 6:18
4. "Spiral Circus" – 3:56
5. "Stars Die" – 5:01
6. "Moonloop" – 8:11
7. "Dislocated Day" – 5:24
8. "The Moon Touches Your Shoulder" – 5:51
"The Sky Moves Sideways Phase 2"
9. "Is... Not" – 12:01
10. "Off the Map" – 4:43
******************************
Total playing time: 59:51

WebSite

Extended info

Line-up / Musicians

- Steve Wilson / guitars, keyboards, programming, flute, tapes and vocals
- Richard Barbieri / synthesizers and electronics (1,6)
- Colin Edwin / bass guitar and double bass (1,5,6, Stars die)
- Chris Maitland / drums and percussion (1,5,6, Stars die)


with
- Rick Edwards / percussion (5, Stars Die)
- Suzanne Barbieri / vocals (6)

(IMG:http://i31.tinypic.com/x3w2r.jpg)

The Sky Moves Sideways is the third studio album by British progressive rock band Porcupine Tree, first released in February, 1995. It has been compared by many fans to Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here because of their similar structure; both albums have extended pieces at the beginning and end, which are the both halves of a single song.

The Sky Moves Sideways was the first Porcupine Tree album to be released in the US, and the first on which Porcupine Tree was actually a band rather than simply a pseudonym for Steven Wilson. This transition took place while the album was being recorded, so two of the tracks - namely "The Moon Touches Your Shoulder" and "Dislocated Day" - are performed entirely by Wilson, while the full band appears on the remainder of the album (including "Stars Die", a UK single which was added to the US version of the album).

In 2004, a new, two CD version of The Sky Moves Sideways was released, along with a similar re-release of the previous album, Up the Downstair, featuring newly recorded acoustic drums by Gavin Harrison on tracks which previously had only drum machines and other electronic percussion programmed by Wilson. The remastered version has a much louder volume, suggesting that a compressor was used in the mastering stage (see loudness war).

There are thus three distinct versions of this album - the original UK version, the US version, and the 2004 remaster - no two of which feature the same track list, or the same version of "Moonloop".

_________________________________
Review from ProgArchives by Bryan;

This is the first time Steven Wilson really came into his own with Porcupine Tree. He'd been making solid art-pop with No-Man for a few years by the time 1995 rolled around, and he was just starting to really take Porcupine Tree seriously. Prehaps this is why he decided to put together a band for The Sky Moves Sideways. Richard Barbieri (formerly of Japan) and Colin Edwin, both of whom appeared on one track from Up the Downstair, both came on as official members (keyboards and bass respectively), while drummer Chris Maitland provided the final piece of the puzzle. However, Wilson had already half-completed the album when the band was brought into place, so some of it is the full band, while the rest is just Wilson on his own (like previous PT works were). The first couple PT albums may have shown promise (as did the single Voyage 34, one of Wilson's first true progressive works), but it all came together on The Sky Moves Sideways. It's very heavily influenced by Pink Floyd, but if you can look past that, there's outstanding music to be found on here.

If you consider 'how prog' an album is to be an important criteria, The Sky Moves Sideways will probably be your favorite album from Porcupine Tree. Right away, the first part of the epic title track (lasting nearly 19 minutes) washes over you with a very delicate, ambient introduction, which gradually gains life, paving the way for probably the most accomplished, progressive piece of music Steven Wilson had made up to this point. There are some easy comparisons to be drawn between it and Pink Floyd's "Shine On You Crazy Diamond", but it's still distinctive and captivating on its own. It also takes a surprising turn around the middle when things speed up and get a bit agressive. The coda to that section is a haunting acoustic outro that puts an exclamation point on the whole dreamy, surreal, eerie 18:43 you've just been through. And that's just the beginning.

"Dislocated Day" is shorter, faster, more repetitive, and more forgettable than the majestic album opener, but the vocals do demonstrate a great use of the "telephone voice" sound that Wilson often uses with his production, not to mention his impressive guitar work. "The Moon Touches Your Shoulder" more or less returns to the dreamy state of the title track, but with less of a sinister undertone, and more acoustic guitar. The result is quite simply a beautiful, sentimental song (albiet one that gets a little bit heavy towards the end). It segues perfectly into "Prepare Yourself", which is essencially a two minute introduction to the epic jam that's about to follow it. The only point of interest on here is some Wilson guitar soloing that sounds like it was taken directly from a Pink Floyd song.

At 17 minutes, "Moonloop" could either be viewed as a ton of boring musical wankery, or an incredible jam that ventures into a psychedelic realm of pure bliss. I'd say I'm somewhat undecided, but let's just be glad that they didn't include the full 40+ minute jam that the track was taken from (which can be found on the very limmited edition compillation Transmission IV). The main chunk of it revolves around a great bassline from Edwin, and has some remarkable moments of Wilson guitar work. The second half is more of a rock song, ending on a driving hard rock guitar riff. It kind of brings down the ambient nature of the piece, but it's still remarkably done considering they were improvising it.

As for "The Sky Moves Sideways" Phase 2 (which closes out the album), it has an ambient intro that is initially not unlike part one, but then some keyboards (very reminiscent of Richard Wright) and later an acoustic guitar quickly give it a different feel. But when the electric comes in, it's obvious that we're dealing with a completely different beast this time around. This edition of the track has less of the dreamlike ambience, and quickly becomes more based around noise. However, by the time it reaches the end, things have slowed down again, and Wilson has busted out one of the finest guitar solos he's ever played. At 16:46, this one has less Floyd influence and more variation, but I don't know if I'd call it the stronger of the two. Still, this two part epic is considered by Steve Wilson to be the only reason why people consider PT prog, and it worth buying the album for alone.

The Sky Moves Sideways is the first time Porcupine Tree put together a strong album from head to toe, and is their most progressive release. I wouldn't say it's by any means their best, but if you're a Pink Floyd fan, you need The Sky Moves Sideways in your collection. If not, you may find the subtle psychedelia and dreamy feel a little bit boring, but this is still an extremely worthwhile offering from Porcupine Tree.

Register

[DonniSharK]

Can anyone upload one of these rips encoded in 320 kbps? Thanks!

[Persian Gorgr...]

1995 The Sky Moves Sideways [Remastered] 2 Disc
Rapidshare/266 MB/320kbps

Register

[авантаж]

I DON'T KNOW WHATS FUCKING CRAZY GUY DONE THIS CRAZY THING! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/25.gif)
I DONT NEED SO MANY PARTS OF THE ALBUM! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/25.gif)
I DONT NEED NEROBURNING! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/25.gif)
I DONT NEED SO GOOD QUALITY!ANYWAY I'LL BUY CD !
GUYS!MAKE EVERITHING AT IFOLDER! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pray.gif)

[Yarri]

Последний альбом раннего Поркупайна, очень много вокала и много инструментальных моментов. Также это, наверное, последний альбом, в котором столь явно влияние Pink Floyd. Пожалуй, можно прогнать разок после долгого перерыва. Но вот чтобы постоянно гонять - нет.

Register

[k.eight.a]

Register

[vam1972]

Если уж ещё раз вернуться к той самой истории про не реализованных плюшки от PF, то это как раз тот самый случай: слушаешь и понимаешь, что нечто подобное было у флойдов. 1 акт The Sky moves... это вообще ответ Wish you were..., в Stars Die и Moonloop нашёл некоторые параллели с A Momentary Lapse..., вторая часть The Sky moves... продолжает идею альбома ПФ 1973 года. Но впечатление - не как от подделки, тупого воршипа и плагиаторщины, а - изысканное удовольствие от тонко продуманного продолжения или дополнения фундаментальных работ классиков. Только я не понял Yarri в плане большого количества вокала. Не так его тут и много.
В чем я точно соглашусь - мало желания слушать этот альбом часто. Потому как, если работы Pink Floyd сравним с яркими цветами в плане впечатлений, то данный релиз имеет этакие пастельные тона, так сказать, хорош, но не на столько. Хороший подбор трэков, из которых мне не понравился лишь Dislocated Day.

[Yarri]

Только я не понял Yarri в плане большого количества вокала. Не так его тут и много.

Тоже себя не очень понял. Наверное, больше вокала, чем на предыдущих двух альбомах. Но не суть.
Альбом всё-таки очень хорош, прямо очень резкий рост после альбома 1993 года. Хотя и флойдятина, влияние PF очень сильно, но подано это интересно.