Porcupine Tree
The Sky Moves Sideways
Psychedelic Rock, Prog-Rock. CD, Digipack, Remaster 2021 (1995).

With TSMS (The Sky Moves Sideways), the transformation from a mere project to the band Porcupine Tree becomes even more apparent. And even though SW (Steven Wilson) only produced two of the six songs ("TSMS Phase I" and "Phase II") entirely with the other musicians, this marks the beginning. Colin Edwin (bass), Chris Maitland (drums), and Richard Barbieri (synthesizer) became permanent members. On this 2021 remaster, the drum machine on two tracks ("Dislocated Day" and "The Moon Touches Your Shoulder") was re-recorded with real drums by future drummer Gavin Harrison. The second CD contains the complete EP versions of Moonloop and Stars Die, as well as an alternative, 35-minute version of the title track.

Guest- Musicians

Theo Travis – Flute
Suzanne Barbieri – Vocals
Rick Edwards – Percussions

Psychedelic influences still dominate here; it can't deny its Pink Floyd roots, yet it still sounds unique. The music isn't particularly radio-friendly. There are also moments of ambient (which could fit with the old Blade Runner), and of course, there are rock passages. This album saddled Porcupine Tree with the dubious reputation of being "the new Pink Floyd of the 1990s." Something Steven Wilson wasn't entirely happy about.

I never really dedicated myself to the period before "In Absentia" (2002). That only changed after I discovered "Signify" (1996). Of course, I also picked out "Stars Die" and "Radioactive Toy," and I wasn't aware that "Dislocated Day" and "The Moon Touches Your Shoulder" originally came from this album. Today, I think I'm listening to a masterpiece.

The very first song, "The Sky Moves Sideways – Phase I," grabs me. At over 18 minutes, it's a real powerhouse, and it simply doesn't fit on a radio playlist. And that's exactly the kind of song I love. "Phase 1" is divided into four sections. The lengthy introduction, "The Colour Of Air," kicks off the album with crescendoing soundscapes before transitioning into the second part, titled "I find That I'm Not There." The existing soundscapes are augmented by drums, guitar, bass, and vocals, taking on a Pink Floyd-esque sound. The tempo is initially slow, with a restrained verse creating a dynamic contrast to a more powerful chorus. The piece then shifts into "Wire The Drum," dominated by electronic beats and keyboard flourishes, and the overall tempo increases. The more understated section, "Spiral Circus," featuring acoustic guitars, provides a temporary conclusion. The considerably shorter "Dislocated Day" has a simpler, rockier melody and truly comes to life on this remaster, as Gavin Harrison replaces the drum machine here. Gavin Harrison also replaces the drum machine on "The Moon Touches Your Shoulder." A ballad with ambient elements, just as it should be, in my opinion. After the very short "Prepare Yourself," we move into "The Sky Moves Sideways – Phase II," which is divided into two parts ("Is…Not" and "Off The Map") and revisits the sound structures of Phase I. Here, only Suzanne Barbieri's vocals are featured. On CD 2, we find "The Sky Moves Sideways" again in a 35-minute version. The magnificent "Stars Die" follows, and the EP "Moonloop" is included as "Moonloop Improvisation" and "Moonloop Coda." Both CDs provide a nice overview for me, as I own neither the original version nor the "Moonloop" EP.

Regarding the technical aspects: This remaster sounds excellent. That's what I've come to expect from Porcupine Tree.

Conclusion: anyone who enjoys psychedelic prog with a strong Pink Floyd influence will find this album very satisfying. Those who listen to Porcupine Tree more from "Stupid Dream" onwards might struggle, but like me for a long time, they'll be missing out on an interesting chapter in the evolution of Porcupine Tree and their magnificent songs. Steven Wilson himself described this album as a "dead end" in relation to Pink Floyd, and he was clear he wanted to depart from that path. 

What do I really think:

Technically sounding pristine, this album was remastered by Steven Wilson back in 2011. A psychedelic prog album reminiscent of Pink Floyd. A masterpiece from 1995, and the remastered version remains a masterpiece. Despite its length, it never gets boring.

On The Sunday Of Life 1992
Voyage 34 1992/93 (2022)
The Sky Moves Sideways 1995 (2021)
Signify 1996
Coma Divine (Live) 1997
Stupid Dream 1999
Lightbulb Sun 2000
Recordings 2001
In Absentia 2002
Deadwing 2005
Fear Of A Blank Planet 2007
Nil Recurring 2007
Anesthetize – Live In Tilburg 2008
We Lost The Skyline Live 2008
The Incident 2009
Octane Twisted Live 2012
Closure/Continuation 2022
Closure/Continuation Live 2023

The photos are all from my CD. 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. But i had a little help from Wikipedia.
©07.04.2026