Porcupine Tree
Lightbulb Sun

The new phase of Porcupine Tree's career reaches its second chapter with this "Lightbulb Sun." After four initial albums dominated by space psychedelic rock sounds in the clear style of Pink Floyd, with "Stupid Dream" the band decided to distance themselves from such sounds, which in some way could push listeners to consider them even as Pink Floyd clones, in favor of a more sentimental and delicate prog-rock style that is surely more personal and less derivative. In 2000, "Lightbulb Sun", the band's sixth studio album, is released. In this splendid new work, the shift established with the previous album is confirmed. The elements that characterized "Stupid Dream" are widely found here as well: delicate and profound tracks often following a song format, very dreamy acoustic guitar parts, keyboard and organ backgrounds so light and relaxed that they seem almost imperceptible, with just a few small psychedelic touches characterized by darker sounds. These characteristics will also appear in the subsequent "In Absentia" and following titles, although a certain metal component will later emerge. Personally, I strongly prefer the second phase of PT precisely because it shows a more personal band. If in the first phase, the band owed part of their sound to Pink Floyd and the psychedelic rock of the 60s and 70s, here the sound has become decidedly more distinctive to the point that Porcupine Tree is PORCUPINE TREE and no longer the new Pink Floyd or something similar. The band went from being an imitator (not in a derogatory sense, mind you, since Wilson and company have never lacked personality) to being imitated (many modern prog bands incorporate melodies reminiscent of their style in some of their records).

But let's focus on the album. The 10 proposed songs manage to truly gift endless emotions to the listener. We had never heard Porcupine Tree so sentimental and intimate. I can assure you that those who love intense and deep emotions will love this album to the point of not being able to remove it from the stereo anymore.

The title-track "Lightbulb Sun" opens the album, dominated by acoustic guitar accompanied by soft piano touches, alternating with more electric moments and a delicate keyboard background emerging in the refrain. Track no. 2, "How Is Your Life Today", is centered around a piano where the fingers rest very softly and accurately for two minutes and 46 incredibly emotional seconds. The immediacy appears in the third track, "Four Chords That Made A Million", with the electric guitar in the foreground featuring a decidedly simple and essential structure and a lively rhythm that makes it one of the album's most immediate moments. With "Shesmovedon", we return to calmer and more intimate rhythms; a track where acoustic guitar takes center stage accompanied by electric guitar touches, including a nice solo, and light organ tapestries accompanying various moments of the song. However, one of the most remarkable tracks, in my opinion, is "Last Chance To Evacuate Planet Earth Before It Is Recycled", a track I consider truly one of the most particular in their repertoire: it begins acoustically, but then delicate synthesizer notes introduce us to a surreal and relaxed atmosphere where keyboards, mellotron, and Richard Barbieri's subtle synth reveal themselves as protagonists of one of the album's best moments; above these sounds, vocal recordings from the leader of the Heaven's Gate religious foundation, a religious group claiming to be from another planet, intervene. "The Rest Will Flow" represents for many the most pop moment in the band's career. Maybe it’s because it barely exceeds three minutes, or because of its canonical verse-chorus structure. The track is essentially centered on acoustic guitar, accompanied by a string quartet, offering an exciting yet immediate track that could have received radio play. But you know, on the radio, you're either a group that plays "trendy" or they ignore you. "Hatesong", which exceeds 8 minutes, is, however, a track with darker and more distorted sounds (Barbieri always crucial in sound programming, an essential element in their music); Colin Edwin is very incisive on bass, and the guitar approach also seems to have a darker character here, but the track softens during the refrains thanks to always very valuable keyboard and symphonic openings. "Where Would It Be" is instead entirely acoustic, even to the point of dispensing with keyboards, but still allows space for an electric guitar solo. And finally, we reach the album's longest track, "Russia On Ice", a 13-minute mini-suite with really impeccable atmospheres, with Richard Barbieri who, as usual, shows an attention to sounds that very few keyboardists can achieve. Some sweet synthesizer notes open the piece, centered on a very delicate organ carpet and slightly David Gilmour-like electric guitar touches to give the track a decidedly Pink Floyd aspect; then in the refrain, we are guided by other symphonic arrangements. In the second part, the track presents darker arrangements, with electric guitars taking the lead, while the sound of bells gives the piece a noteworthy finale. And do you think it’s over? Well, I’m afraid not! There is still one last essential track, as it is one of the most intense songs ever written by the group, proving that the most emotional songs are not written by Tiziano Ferro! "Feel So Low" represents the album's most sweet moment and the one that most touches the heartstrings and truly makes them vibrate like a tuning fork! To offer this is a very delicate electric guitar arpeggio repeated throughout the song, accompanied by equally gentle and emotional keyboards.

We have thus finished listening to a masterpiece, which together with its successor "In Absentia" creates a formidable and unrepeatable duo; I indeed consider that period as the best moment for the British band, from which they should always learn and which should always be the main reference point for the band when the intention is to write a masterpiece. Never has Wilson been so inspired, truly. I recommend this title to all those who primarily seek emotions from music, but also to those who seek accuracy, the right measure of things, rationality, the desire to share a quality product without being too flashy. A must-have!