Steven Wilson - The Raven that Refused to Sing (and other stories)First off, the more time I listen to this album the more it grows on me where I am really loving it. It is the third solo album from Steven Wilson, and his first release of 2013, and like many of his projects this had many versions to choose from. One I have access to (while sadly not mine, I have the CD/DVD version), is the 4 disc deluxe edition which includes a 128 page book with lyrics and the ghost stories in which the album is based upon. The artwork for this album was done by Hajo Mueller, but included on the blu-ray and DVD is a studio documentary by long collaborating artist to Wilson, Lasse Hoile.
Following the Grace For Drowning Tour, Wilson used the same band he got together of technical musicians for TRTRTS. That band consisted of Nick Beggs, Guthrie Govan, Adam Holzman, Marco Minnemann, and Theo Travis. Getting together such technical musicians allows for complicated parts, that just listening to you can tell they where just enjoyable parts to play. In addition to how each part layers with each other, the individual parts themselves are just really intriguing. The concept behind the album, is that the songs are based upon various ghost stories. There is a track-by-track interview with Steven Wilson on the concept and stories behind each song off the album on musicradar to read.
Unlike Wilson's other albums, this was recorded live in the studio with him just adding the vocals later on. This would really explain how the songs just flow really well, and sound more natural. Now this album does have a 70's prog vibe (which I think sounds great and done in such a way that works great though I know some people weren't wanting to hear that), but even if that's not your thing you can't deny the musicianship presented in this album.
"Luminol" opens the album, and has sections that really are just like a complete prog jam. It was first released to listen to in September on the live album Get All You Deserve. "Drive Home" for me, gives off a Blackfield vibe for most of the song up until Govan's solo (though for me that's not a problem, just an observation).
"The Holy Drinker" is one of the songs that really stand out for me on the album. It has a great flow and just is fantastic, absolutely love it. "The Pin Drop" is another rather enjoyable song that nicely follows with the flow of the album.
"The Watchmaker" starts out with an intro of just Steven singing over an arpeggiated guitar, that then goes to a lovely flute solo, and then adding in the piano and guitar. Then after that it goes into a more progy section, with melotron and everything. Now the final track, "The Raven That Refused To Sing", is really just beautiful.
One thing overall I really like that was done throughout the album, was the combination of the saxophone and the guitar. Those two instruments created a really great blend when they were playing together, that created a really cool texture for whenever that was used. Raven has really grown on me a lot since I fist listened to it, while I still think out of Wilson's solo albums Grace for Drowning is my favorite, this is really up there with it. The most I listen to it, the more I hear things I hadn't on a prior listen, which really adds to the whole experience of the album for me.
The
second disc of the deluxe edition consists of demos for the album, as
well as one 'unused idea', "Clock Song". The DVD consists of the 5.1 mix
of the album, with the blu-ray of the instrumental and one 'lounge
version' of a song. The overall packaging of the album, similar to
previous Wilson deluxe editions, is massive. Though the whole
presentation of the album together is really a great piece of work;
music, artwork, stories, and all.Since I waited forever to actually post this, I may as well also mention the Record Store Day release that a certain S. Wilson had. That being, the "Luminol" and "Watchmaker" demos on a 12" picture disc vinyl. Now these demos are on the second disc of the deluxe edition, but getting to hear them from the vinyl is just fantastic. I do have to mention, the picture I have up of the record my special copy that I will cherish forever. That is because while I couldn't make Wilson's latest concert at the Best Buy Theater on 4/26, my family went and ended up meeting him. Since it was my birthday recently they asked him to sign "happy birthday" to me, and also got Nick Beggs, Theo Travis, and Guthrie Govan to sign it. I can't express just how much I appreciate and love this, and how amazing those guys are for doing that.
If you had gotten the deluxe edition it would have been well worth your money, and really any version of this album is. I would also highly recommend if you can get your hands on a copy of the March issue of Prog Magazine, to read the article in there on the album. It is really interesting to read what Steven's influences for the album where, how he went about recording it, the art direction, and just in general. A great read, plus there are also some other cool articles in there like one on Riverside (and more).
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| Prog Magazine, March 2013 |
