Porcupine Tree: In Absentia (Deluxe Edition) on 3 CDs and 1 Blu-ray Disc

Mit neuem Schlagzeuger Gavin Harrison, und inspiriert vom befreundeten Opeth, zeigte sich Steven Wilson auf diesem Album deutlich Metallastiger, ohne dabei den Hang zu eingängigen Popmelodien zu verlieren. Mit über 100.000 verkauften Einheiten ist »In Absentia« das erfolgreichste Album der Band. Songs wie »Trains«, »Blackest Eyes«, »The Sound Of Muzak« oder »Lips Of Ashes« sind zu Porcupine Tree-Hits geworden.

The much anticipated deluxe edition of the iconic album by the British legends of experimental rock.

Featuring remastered stereo and 5.1 surround sound mixes, additional studio recordings, a disc of unreleased demos and a new feature length Lasse Hoile directed documentary on Blu-ray.

In Absentia was Porcupine Tree’s seventh studio album, first released in 2002, and was the first in a run of three albums that for many represent the pinnacle of the band’s artistic achievements. Not many albums can claim to have created a new genre, but with its fusion of metal, progressive rock, ambient textures, and acoustic singer-songwriter styled material, it became something of a blueprint for a generation of bands to come. It was also something of a breakthrough for the band, eventually going on to sell three times more than the band’s previous releases. In Absentia features many of Porcupine Tree’s most beloved songs, including »Trains«, »The Sound of Muzak« and »Blackest Eyes«. While not a formal concept album, many of the songs have common themes related to serial killers, youthful innocence gone wrong, and observations of the modern world, setting a template for many of songwriter Steven Wilson’s future songs.

This new deluxe version of In Absentia provides an unrivalled insight into the context of the seminal album. The first CD features Steven Wilson’s 2017 remaster, which has considerably less compression and limiting for a more dynamic listening experience.

The second CD includes all of the additional finished studio recordings the band made during the period. »Collapse (intro)«, »Drown With Me«, »Chloroform«, and »Meantime« were all recorded during the album sessions in New York, while »Futile« and »Orchidia« come from the post-album promo-only Futile EP. Radio edits of »Trains«, »Blackest Eyes« and »Strip the Soul« are also included.

The third CD comprises over 70 minutes of demos recorded at Wilson’s home studio during the two years leading up to recording the album. Many of the selections differ from the final versions, with additional sections, alternate lyrics, and different arrangements. Also included are demos of three songs that were not subsequently recorded by the band, all released here for the first time: »Imogen Slaughter«, »Watching You Sleep«, and »Enough«.

The Blu-ray features the new master of the original stereo mix, the 5.1 surround sound mix created in 2003 by legendary engineer Elliot Scheiner, plus the audio from the second CD, all in high resolution audio. It also boasts a new 109-minute feature length documentary film directed by Lasse Hoile, chronicling the making of the album with interviews and archive footage.

The 100-page deluxe hardback book is filled with exclusive content, including photography by Lasse Hoile, Carl Glover, Richard Barbieri and John Blackford from the recording sessions, subsequent tour and more, extensive biographical liner notes and track-by-track commentary by Stephen Humphries, artwork drafts, and handwritten notes and lyrics.

This deluxe reissue of Porcupine Tree’s best-loved album follows the release of Steven Wilson’s fifth solo album, To The Bone, which soared into the UK Album Charts at #3 and #2 in the German album charts and led to a sold-out tour including 3 shows at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Meanwhile Gavin Harrison is enjoying success touring the world with both King Crimson and The Pineapple Thief after performing on the latter’s latest album Dissolution, keyboardist Richard Barbieri recently released a box set collection of pieces Variants, and Colin Edwin issued the latest studio album with his band O. R.k., titled Ramagehead, featuring Serj Tankian of System of a Down.