Track Listing

1. Blackest Eyes
2. Trains
3. Lips of Ashes
4. The Sound of Muzak
5. Gravity Eyelids
6. Wedding Nails
7. Prodigal
8. 3
9. The Creator Has a Masterpiece
10. Heartattack in a Layby
11. Strip the Soul
12. Collapse the Light into Earth
13. Futile
14. Drown With Me
15. Chloroform

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2990 in Music
• Released on: 2004-03-08
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Colour, DTS Surround Sound, PAL
• Original language: English

Amazon.co.uk Review
In Absentia, their Lava Records debut, is the latest fruit of Porcupine Tree mainstay Steven Wilson's obsession with progressive rock, a mania that dates to the late-1980s when the "band" was little more than a fantasy, though one with a remarkably imaginative--if entirely fictional--history and bio. But that pipedream eventually became a real "alt prog" cult fave, with these dozen ambitious songs finding a focus that occasionally eluded the band on half-hour soundscapes such as "Voyage 34". Tracks such as "Gravity Eyelids" have a retro-psychedelic feel that would have done the XTC alter ego Dukes of Stratosphear proud, with Wilson's pure melodic tenor pushing it beyond the merely baroque.

In Absentia is also a strong statement of another crucial Wilson/Porcupine retro-sensibility: the album has a unified musical statement. "Lips of Ashes" and "Prodigal" serve up the sort of impressionistic, harmony-rich musings that Pink Floyd have rarely managed since Wish You Were Here, while "The Creator Has a Master Tape" punctuates the rich harmonies of tracks such as "Heart Attack in a Layby" with King Crimson-esque metallic thrash and processed vocals. While the band's instrumental prowess sometimes slums its way into the free-form jazz noodling of past efforts, the album remains one of Porcupine Tree's fullest achievements. --Jerry McCulley

CD Description
There's a breed of (post-1980s) bands with the same degree of grand rock experimentalism as Pink Floyd and Yes, who simultaneously adhere to the concept of concise songwriting. Porcupine Tree is one such band--their sound is a balance of lush ambient textures, charming vocal harmonies, rock & roll directness, and acoustically- and electronically-generated sounds. Their debut IN ABSENTIA shows all these elements in place, rich with the likely possibility of them becoming a contemporary counterpart to Pink Floyd.

Customer Reviews

At Last, Blinding New Music for A New Format!
I already owned and loved the CD - which is like a cross between Brian Wilson, Alice In Chains and Meddle-era Pink Floyd - but this DVD-A version is absolutely awesome. Cathedrals of sound sprout out of your head and unfurl across the room, and textural comparisons with Massive Attack spring up that hadn't been conjured by the bog-standard release. Anyone who collects SACD and DVD-A discs, as I do, will have been confronted by the incredibly classic rock-skewed selection of recordings currently available - and the few new acts releasing albums straight onto these formats are often wholly inappropriate candidates. Porcupine Tree's "In Absentia" is a searing blast of fresh air in this department, one of the great overlooked classic albums of 2003 remixed and refreshed to provide one of the best arguments yet for the new audio formats. As dark as some of the material is, I've been unable to contain an ear-to-ear smile while immersing myself in the magnificent sonic soundcscapes of Gravity Eyelids, Heart Attack In A Layby, The Creator Has A Mastertape, Blackest Eyes, Trains and more.... Unreservedly recommended!

For me a new find..................
For me a new find . I am at heart a Floyd fan, but started about 9 months ago looking for other prog rock bands whilst off long term sick. I was amazed at how many bands still go under the genre of prog. Allowing for the fact that this is not what I personaly would call prog, having bought it I was blown away. Powerfull, melodic, great musicianship from all members of the band members and terrific vocals to boot.I have also rercently bought music by, Mostly Autumn, RPWL, Riverside, I.Q, Transatlantic, Spocks Bears, Dream Theatre, Kaipa, Pendragon,Magellan, Vanden Plas, amd Manning.
Older prog I was listening to included, Rush, Wishbone Ash, Jethro Tull, Genesis, Alan Parsons, Pink Floyd to name a few.
All recently purchased music have been good for expanding the old buggers previously narrow field of Prog, but finally I must say that this has been on the player most days so far.It is a little heavy for some maybe in parts, but I love it. 11/10.

'In Absentia' - In Heaven!
For years I have been waiting for something to really blow me away on DVD-Audio, and this is it! There is tremendous variety in the song styles, precision and clarity in the way the songs are played, and emotion and intelligence in Steven Wilson's lyrics. Combine these with SW's growing ear for production, and you end up with one of the most exceptional and underrated albums of the last decade.

Each time I listen to the album I have a new favourite song. Songs like 'Gravity Eyelids' and 'Collapse The Light Into Earth' build and soar majestically. The acoustics on 'Trains' are clear and crisp. 'Lips Of Ashes' sounds mystical, 'Strip The Soul' just sounds so powerful. I do not have to reach for the remote to skip any tracks. It is just masterful rock music.

Quite simply, this is the best DVD-Audio you can buy today. 5/5