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The master of the new progressive
A prolific musician, a precocious child, a well-structured talent in his genre. Born in Hemel Hempstead on November 3, 1967, Steven Wilson, it cannot be denied, catapults the audience into "other" atmospheres that make us think a bit as well as move.
From a very young age, he developed his passion for rock and progressive experimentation that would always accompany him. Both his solo works and those with Porcupine Tree, as well as the mixing of old prog masterpieces from the past, such as "In The Court Of The Crimson King" by King Crimson and "Aqualung" by Jethro Tull, always demonstrate a meticulous attention to detail, an obsessive mania for form, and a natural art that attracts enthusiasts.
His new solo album "Grace For Drowning" arrives two years after "Insurgentes" and still after "The Incident" with Porcupine Tree. "Grace For Drowning" presents itself as a very ambitious and conceptual record, divided into two volumes: "Deform To Form A Star" and "Like Dust I Have Cleared From My Eye".
In this latest album, Wilson demonstrates an attraction to new instruments and dreamlike sounds, more present than in previous productions. Nonetheless, he does not fail to include more aggressive moments, typical of Porcupine's atmospheres.
Tracks like "Sectarian," "Deform To Form A Star," "Remainder The Black Dog," and "Raider II" are captivating and sometimes pyrotechnic. They demonstrate that Wilson manages to let himself go, as usual, in high-quality guitar solos. Simply immense. Whether alone or in the company of high-level musicians like Tony Levin and Steve Hackett above all, he always manages to amaze with his simple face and his well-structured rock. An axiom that he never fails to include in his performances.
For those who know him, "Grace For Drawing" is nothing but a confirmation. For those who encounter, for the first time, a stylish rocker like him, the only advice can only be to listen to him. Getting lost in his unexplored universes isn't bad at all. The rocker without socks, due to his typical way of taking the stage barefoot, will certainly deserve a fairly substantial corner in a true discography on prog.
Listen to:
I: Raider II
II: Index
III: Postcard
For me:
Listening to Wilson has always happened to me by chance through the little radio in my shop, a perfect bridge between my solitary work world and the outside noise. If I'm not wrong in my memories, the first to talk to me about prog was a certain Ciuffo, an old companion of delusions who appreciated the genre. At the time, to me, it was just insignificant noise. But then you grow up. Now that I've learned to oscillate between various genres, with the only distinction being "good music," I know how to appreciate true music and good experimentation, prog or otherwise. For me, Wilson represents my personal debut with the genre.
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