Steven Wilson’s eighth studio album, The Overview, sees him return to the genre that made him famous, Progressive Rock (although his 21st century version updates the musical palette to incorporate everything from glistening electronics to monumental post rock). 

 

Containing two wildly ambitious twenty minute tracks, there are nods to the expansive, sky-bound sound of classic Porcupine Tree, the intricate storytelling of The Raven That Refused To Sing and the forward thinking electronics of his most recent solo releases. The overall effect is both resolutely singular to this release and yet instantly recognisably as Steven Wilson. 

 

The album’s tracks, Objects Outlive Us (including a movement with lyrics by Andy Partridge) and The Overview, are made up of distinctive musical sections that flow from one to the other to play as their own continuous pieces. Headphones and a wide open mind recommended. 

 

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Boxed blu-ray with 8-page booklet. All pre-orders will include, at random, one of four exclusive postcards.

 

of the album (and an instrumental version of the album).

 

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“The Overview is a 42 minute long journey based on the reported “overview effect”, whereby astronauts seeing the earth from space undergo a transformative cognitive shift, most often experiencing an overwhelming appreciation and perception of beauty, and an increased sense of connection to other people and the Earth as a whole. However not all experiences are positive, some seeing the Earth truly for what it is, insignificant and lost in the vastness of space, and the human race as a troubled species. The music attempts to portray the sheer magnitude of space and our place in it.  The idea is to not to represent space as the cosy place portrayed in most science-fiction, but for what it is - something beyond our understanding, a place of anti-life, vast, cold and black. As a reflection of that, the album presents images and stories of life on earth, both good and bad.” - Steven Wilson

 

The Overview was written, produced and mixed by Steven Wilson at home, Dec 2023 - August 2024. Lyrics on Objects: Meanwhile written by Andy Partridge.