Steven Wilson
„TH5 OV5RV95W“ (The Overview)
Progressive Rock. Black Vinyl, Gatefold. 2025

Porcupine Tree and Steven Wilson are synonymous with progressive rock for me. With TO (The Overview), SW (Steven Wilson) created a progressive masterpiece in 2025. I will leave the question of what the difference is between Porcupine Tree and Steven Wilson unanswered. The lines are blurred. While I consider SW a master of prog, I don't reduce him to that as a musician. Something SW wouldn't want, and it wouldn't do him justice. One more thing about this review: this time it was inspired by a report from Deutschlandfunk (German public radio).

The Overview Effect was described by American astronauts when they became the first humans to perceive the Earth in its entirety and spoke of a shift in perspective. A feeling of awe arose, a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of life on Earth, coupled with a sense of responsibility for our environment. From this, SW has created a progressive concept album with two 20-minute tracks, teeming with reminiscences of classic prog. It's incredibly melodic, yet also challenging. Steven says:

"When I record an album, I want people to hear and discover new things on the fifth, tenth, 50th, or 100th listen. I think one of the problems I have with a lot of modern pop is that it seems to be created only for the moment, and there's really nothing left to discover after you've heard it once or twice. I grew up with records that were so layered that you could still discover something new even on the hundredth listen."

Take a large array of string instruments that sound like a nervous swarm of insects. Moog, Mellotron, delicate synth sounds, and impressive drumming from Russel Holzman and Craig Blundel. Wilson always has state-of-the-art technology at his disposal in his studio and a keen ear for talented musicians. It's all meticulously crafted to perfection. Those who prefer a more earthy sound will be better served by Blues.

We traverse a galaxy of music. We hear "Yes," David Bowie, and "Major Tom," there are Beatlesque moments, we leaf through the catalog of the golden prog-rock era. Conceptual, progressive rock music brimming with overflowing detail, music that can hardly be grasped on the first listen. And that's why I keep coming back to it, just like Pink Floyd's "The Wall," which has been on constant rotation since 1980. So, how much Porcupine Tree is in Steven Wilson's music? And again, I won't answer, because SW has become too multifaceted. The verdict? Progressive rock at its finest. Melodic. Complex. Innovative. It demands to be listened to again and again.

Side A – „Objects Outlive Us“ (23:19)
Side B – „The Overview“ (18:22

Steven Wilson -Vocals, Piano, Keyboard, acoustic Bass, E-Bass, E-Guitar, acoustic Guitar, Strings, Harmonium, Percussion 
Randy McStine – Effects(FX), Sound Design, Backing Vocals, Vocals, Guitar, Moog, Ukulele 
Rotem Wilson – spoken Vocals
Willow Beggs – Vocals
Russel Holzman – Drums
Craig Blundell – Drums
Theo Travis – Flute, Soprano Saxophone
Niko Tsonev – Guitar
Adam Holzman – Rhodes, Modular Synth, Piano, Moog, Hammond, Mellotron

The photos are all from my LP. The rights to all motifs, logos, texts and fonts that can be seen in the photos are of course owned by the copyright holder.

No AI was used in the making of this Review.
©19.12.2025