Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. What You Are Listening To...
2. Synesthesia
3. Monuments Burn Into Moments
4. Always Never
5. Up The Downstair
6. Not Beautiful Anymore
7. Siren
8. Small Fish
9. Burning Sky
10. Fadeaway

Disc 2:

1. Cloud Zero
2. Joke's On You
3. Navigator
4. Rainy Taxi
5. Yellow Hedgerow Dreamscape

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #58998 in Music
• Released on: 2005-05-23
• Number of discs: 2
• Dimensions: .28 pounds

CD Description
Definitely consciousness expanding, the prickly affectations of Porcupine Tree will only be lost on those too well-steeped in the cold, cruel world to avail themselves of these inebriating aural tonics. Fortunately, the rest of us lucky few who are mentally equipped to let UP THE DOWNSTAIR run barefoot through our minds will be ever so eager to do so. Take careful note of the sounds wafting from ye olde England--thewild potpourri of bands like Ozric Tentacles, Omnia Opera, Mandragora, and Porcupine Tree are making a mighty dent in those so exposed. This stuff is not going to be a secret muchlonger--and blessedly so. UP THE DOWNSTAIR's charismatic potions penetrate, obfuscate, and violate the creeks of the sensible mind with dreamy veils of guitars, pulsing rhythms, and layer upon layer of bubbling, drifting electronics. Incredible stuff--former Japan keyboardist Richard Barbieri even adds his synthetic textures to the techno-funk landscape of the title cut.

Customer Reviews

P Trees 1st real album now with real drums!
This is the final instalment in Deleriums re-issue programme of Porcupine Trees early work and has been a long time coming. Steven Wilson's plan for "Up the Downstair" was to completely re-record all the drum parts using current Porcupine Tree Gavin Harrison to replace the computer generated drums which were deemed a bit clunky. Actually in some ways this is the first true Porcupine Tree album, as the previous "On the Sunday of Life..." was really a compilation of material culled from early cassette only releases. The material for "Up the Downstairs" was written specifically for this album.

Though Steven Wilson takes on the majority of the instrumental duties here, we see the first efforts form Richard Barbieri and Colin Edwin on a track each. So this, together with Gavin's contributions makes this more of a band album than previously heard and the genesis of what would eventually gestate over the course of the next few albums into the complete Porcupine Tree band format.

"Up the Downstair" shows such a progression in terms of songwriting compared to some of the more psychedelic, experimental and just downright silly material of "On the Sunday of Life...". This album is however rock solid. From the blistering opening of "Synesthesia", this is sterling stuff. Excellent guitar solo too. In fact there is much of Wilsons wonderful trademark guitar playing throughout. I love the short "Small Fish" and the way that it lyrically and musically segues into the epic instrumental of "Burning Sky". "Fadeaway" is a beautiful closer and has long been one of Wilsons own particular favourite Porcupine Tree songs.

The second CD is the long unavailable EP "Staircase Infinities" which consists of leftover material recorded at the same sessions. There is nothing substandard about these tracks. This is definitely worth getting and makes this package excellent value for money. The glossy digipack sleeve finishes off the whole thing nicely and Wilson should be admired for lovingly upgrading this early example of Porcupine Tree at their embryonic best!

Superb!
I obviously don't know as much about Porcupine Tree as DR D B SILLARS (below). I'm a reasonably new fan of this awesome British band.

I was first introduced to them when my younger brother told me about them after seeing them support Dream Theater a few years back. I downloaded a few tracks to see if I'd like them and then bought The Sky Moves Sideways. I liked it well enough, but haven't played it that much. Then I heard Deadwing, which totally blew me away. I'd bought Deadwing and In Abstentia; both of them the DTS versions.

I listened to them almost constantly and still listen to them often.

I decided to check out a few more albums and got Signify [Remastered] Up The Downstair [remastered]. After reading the above review I'm quite glad that I got into them when I did. I'm a drummer myself and am not keen on drum machines, although nowadays you can sample real accoustic kits and play them through a keyboard or whatever you like; but that's by and by.

Since rediscovering Porcupine Tree I haven't found a single song that I don't like and very few that don't move me in some way.

A month or two ago I would've put Dream Theater at the top of my favourite bands list. I think Porcupine Tree just took the top spot and I can't see them being knocked off anytime soon.

Porcupine Tree are deep, progressive, atmospheric and inspirational.

An album of superb quality.

what a good title.....
This album is a psychedelic exuberance, freeing the spirit. Momentary crashing waves giving way to a magnificent sunset where calmly trotting white horses play. Let go of the turmoil within.....a rapturous experience rolling on and on. Who needs comparisons, this band stands out. Just so you know, it has beat and rhythm like nobody else. A relaxation cd that leaves you feeling motivated and in tune. The swift pace changes are breathtaking. You can almost see the flashing lights as it pulses. Underestimated in my opinion. A cd with guts. (Hope this helps - best to just buy it and see!)