I have plenty of people that care - in that case it was more, the problem wasn't directly related to my problems, but were a factor in the bigger scheme of things. The fallout from that experience wasn't immediate but the solution ended up being putting my life in the context of what it is - this probably had a 90% drop in fixation on dying from that 18-20 year old period of my life. In some ways, I hope it makes that possibility less likely going forward. Personal post over, it only just came to me when this came up that it fit so much when I hadn't heard it in years.
Prodigal For me, this is another highpoint on an album full of them. There is a tiny bit of humor hidden down deep in the lyrics. Not a common thing on a Porcupine Tree album. The buildup from the rather sparse verses to the bridge (Rain keeps falling down the glass) via increased (vocal and instrumental) layering is well done and effective. This culminates with the wonderful stereo electric guitar chord progression during the "These are my old clothes - This is a new low..." part of the song--which is a killer musical ear-gasm for this listener. Absolutely love it!
.3 ("Dot Three") Words and Music by Steven Wilson (and Colin Edwin?) Black the sky, weapons fly Lay them waste for your race (Welcome home) -------------------------------- This was derived from the demo for Strip the Soul (for which Colin is given some credit - maybe it's just the opening bass riff for STS that Colin contributed). The Lyndhurst Orchestra joins PT on this song - and, oh, what a song it is! A total mood piece with lush strings and vocals that work almost like another instrument. The bass is sublime. I LOVE this song. I'm just satisfied at the end. The lyrics are pretty dark, though. There has been speculation about the title - does it refer to a third world war, or maybe a Bible verse (2 Peter 3:10 has been suggested: “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.”). As far as I know, Steven has never revealed the meaning. On the live album Anesthetize, ".3" and "Strip the Soul" are reunited and played together. I actually like them better as separate songs.
I think I like .3 better than Strip the Soul! I admit that I did not pay .3 much attention on the first few album listenings, preoccupied as I was with what seemed to be a big comedown after the first five great songs. It is indeed a very atmospheric piece, and rescues the middle part of the album somewhat. It's almost a throwback to the sound he had on Up the Downstair, or even earlier. In fact, listening again, I was reminded of It Will Rain For a Million Years. Perhaps it's about an alien invasion, in which case "Dot three" might be how they would refer to the Earth, being the third dot from the sun.
I love getting a mostly-instrumental song where the few vocals we get are really impactful, and .3 is a great demonstration of how effective it can be. The bass line is this one is killer, and those strings are so majestic.
I like .3 but not as much as some. The music is atmospheric and the bass line is great, but it's just a bit too repetitive for my taste. I'll enjoy it when it's playing but it's not one I reach for.
.3 The layering in this song is off the chart. Just beautiful. Also, Colin Edwin is the John Paul Jones of this band. The secret weapon. The .3 title may refer to World War 3. The lyrics certainly seem to lean that way. The only oddity there is the "welcome home" vocal counterpoint at the end. Who is that referring to? Whatever, this song is another winner, and it serves as a palette cleanser/breather too.
The Creator Has a Mastertape Words and Music by Steven Wilson He captured and collected things And he put them in a shed He raised a proper family So he could tie them to a bed The creator had a mastertape But he left it in a cab I stared into the void tonight The best dream I ever had He worked himself into the ground And drove a spike into his head A voice said “Are you happy now? Your sordid home is running red” The creator had a mastertape But he left it in a cab I stared into the void tonight The best dream I ever had ----------------------------------------------------- If there's a song I have doubts about on this album...it's this one. Frenetic energy and a metal sound combined with some of Steven's most disturbing lyrics ("Strip the Soul" rivals it). There was some story I heard that I can't remember about some artist leaving behind a demo mastertape in car maybe being the inspiration for the title, but I may have just imagined that. I have this vision of someone finding a video tape in a cab of some psycho torturing and murdering his family. Ugh. The song is apparently very difficult to play - particularly for the drummer - and may have been the proximate cause of Chris Maitland's departure from the band. Pills and chloroform
Mastertape points the way to the more metalized music to come. I think it works fairly well in this spot on the album, as a burst of energy. And yes, the lyrics are certainly disturbing, but I guess this is expected by this point.
While I do not skip Creator, I find it a bit of a throwaway and I would be perfectly happy if it were not there. I think I also recall a story about some musician leaving a tape of a finished album in a taxi and having to record the whole thing again. I can't remember who it was, and it's probably not pertiinent to this particular song, which seems to be more about some kind of psycho. There is a line in there "He captured and collected things" which I would say is almost certainly a reference to the character in "The Collector" by John Fowles - given that there is at least one other song of Steven's that references this character ("Index" from Grace For Drowning). I have a feeling that if I had the opportunity to look at Steven's bookcases, or wherever he keeps his books, and see what titles he had in his collection, I might wish that I hadn't.
I believe it was supposedly Jimi Hendrix who left the Axis Bold as Love mastertape in a cab. I'm a big fan of Creator has a Mastertape. Sounds amazing in surround.
Prodigal Another fantastic song on a very strong album. the harmonies are amazing again. The slide guitar I think really adds to the texture of the track. The part before the bridge as well as the outro, I can't figure out what it is. Keyboard or guitar? It almost sound like a vocal through distortion but you can't make out the words. Another great guitar solo by SW. Love the fill at the end by Gavin and then how it goes into... .3 This is just an incredible instrumental (basically) from start to end. The bass line is just superb. The drums how they come in and groove with that bass line. Some more Ebow guitar it sounds like. the strings really make the sound gel nice on this as it goes along. Nice acoustic guitar and the electric through the Leslie sounds great. Great song in surround as well as when you are on a road trip driving and looking at really nice scenery.
The Creator Has A Mastertape Yes, it was Jimi Hendrix who left the master tape for side one of Axis: Bold As Love in a cab. So he and Eddie Kramer had to remix that side. As for the song in question, I love the kinetic energy it gives off. Colin Edwin's bass line is simple yet effective. It serves the song perfectly.
.3 is a great example of the magic that happens when all the musical elements come together. This is what the term “cinematic” in music really is about.
The Creator is a Mastertape is not one of my favorites from the record, but I still like it a lot, and its placement in the album is perfect. It's one of those songs that could have sounded too noisy had the production not been just right, but it's sonically pretty amazing.
The Creator is a hard one for me to rap my head around. I like it, but don’t really get it I guess. I understand how part of the lyrics relate to the theme of the album, but the leaving it in a cab part, especially knowing the Hendrix connection is confusing. Then, pills and chloroform all the pages torn, not too sure there either. I do find the music engaging just for the pure schizophrenic nature of it. Some very angular jarring moments. It almost feels like a few different songs tied together by a drum part. Which is a bit of an insane drum part really. I guess intense is a better word for it. Agreed that it would have been real interesting to know Maitland’s take on this. Blundell did a great job on SW’s solo tour with this song, but I thought the poor guy might have a stroke doing it. It’s an all out in your face song live. All you need during the heavy guitar riff is a strobe light and a lot of head banging!
I believe "he left it in a cab" is just a throwaway line that Steven included as a little bit of humour because he remembered the story about Jimi Hendrix. I don't think the rest of the song has anything to do with Hendrix.
Heartattack in a Layby Words and Music by Steven Wilson I pull off the road East of Baldock and Ashford Feeling for my cell In the light from the dashboard Hissing from the road The smell of rain in the air con Maybe check the news Or just put a tape on Lighting up a smoke I’ve got this feeling inside me Don’t feel too good If I close my eyes And fell asleep in this layby Would it all subside The fever pushing the day by Motor window wind I could do with some fresh air Can’t breathe too well i. She waits for me ii. Home waits for me I guess I should go now She’s waiting to make up To tell me she’s sorry And how much she missed me I guess I’m just burnt out I really should slow down I’m perfectly fine but I just need to lie down We’ll grow old together… -------------------------------------------- Probably my favorite PT song. I've not heard anything more hauntingly beautiful than the end of this song. It is so incredibly sad that it has literally moved me to tears. That mixture of hope and regret while the listener realizes that the protagonist is dying. Wow. Musically, the acoustic guitar accents are perfect.
This set of lyrics is one of Steven's most straightforward and easy to understand. It's just about a man pulling over to the side of the raod because he's not feeling too good, and realising that he needs to start taking things a bit easier. Either that, or there is some extra subtext that I am missing completely. This is where the album picks up again for me. .3 is fine, but the other songs surrounding it seem rather insipid. Heartatack is a return to form.there is a delightful little bit of harmonising near the end - what Steven refers to as "ensemble singing". This is one of the things that gave Porcupine Tree a distinctive sound.
Heartattack is a great song. Haunting is the right word for it - the acoustic guitars, sad synths, and layered vocals make for an incredibly melancholy atmosphere. I'm convinced the man dies there and they don't grow old together. The ending of the song is that proverbial light.
