Porcupine Tree in Sydney April 2008

Porcupine Tree may not be known to many Aussies but they have been at the forefront of progressive rock since their inception in the UK, twenty years ago.

Like Spock's Beard they have steered clear of the metal trend in prog (Dream Theatre, Symphony X, Stratovarius) picking up where Pink Floyd left off, with an emphasis on atmosphere, musicianship and good song-writing.

If you listen to any of their great songs, The Sound of Music, Deadwing, Trains, Mellotron Scratch, the key is to stick with it until you get that hypnotising effect that was also common to Pink Floyd (try Dogs on head-phones). There songs do have a taste of metal, but often it only comes in when your nice and relaxed about three quarters of the way through.

Their latest album, Fear of a Blank Planet (4/2007) has increased their profile outside of the Uk, hitting number 59 on the Billboard charts (check out Anesthetise at over 17 minutes)

Saturday Apr 26, 2008

Enmore Theatre

Ticketek

Image: Courtesy Roadrunner, Atlantic