The reports about his new album The Overview spoke of a glorious return to prog with two long epics. Nowadays you see more artists who think in terms of record sides and thus make a kind of A and B side. So did Wilson and because of his abilities as a sound engineer I decided to buy the blu-ray version without having heard a single note. Expectations were high and the fact that the subject is the effect of astronauts seeing the Earth from space, the so-called overview effect, I expected a lot of spacey sounds and sound effects. In short, they experience an enormous sense of insignificance when they look at our small planet from infinite space. Everything that we as humans are so attached to is transient and that also explains the content of the lyrics. These lyrics are very clever and Wilson knows his way with words, as he always did.

So we are dealing with two long tracks that are divided into different parts. Objects outlive us is side A, and The Overview is side B. Despite the fact that the small parts are quite easy to distinguish, the music also kind of runs into each other. Just no break in between.

There is again a variety of renowned artists participating, Adam Holzman on keyboards, Graig Blundell on drums (The Overview), Russell Holzman on drums (Objects outlive us), Randy McStine on guitar and effects, Theo travis on saxophone and flute, Willow Beggs on vocals and Niko Tsonev plays a guitar solo.

What immediately struck me was the poor operability of the blu-ray menu and that is mainly because it is almost impossible to see at which point of the menu you are. Even if you watch it in the dark, this remains difficult, too bad. I also might have expected some variety in the image, but there isn't. Of course, the subject offers many opportunities for special sounds.

Well, the latter is certainly true, and it all sounds really great so in that area, nothing to complain about. But in the end it's about the music and I simply don't like that too much. It is clearly a continuation of what can be heard on The Harmony Codex, a mix of electronic music with dreamy passages that are interspersed with occasional heavy guitar chords but also acoustic guitar work. You could say that everything is familiar but in a new guise. Personally, I have a lot of trouble with Randy Mc Stine's guitar solos because they are anything but melodic, there is a lot of distortion in the chosen guitar sound. The solo at the end of Objects outlive us (Heat Death of the Universe) doesn't touch me at all, in fact, I really don't like it. Wilson indicated that he wanted a solo that is nothing like that of David Gilmour in Comfortably Numb and he succeeded.  Nothing sticks in terms of melodies either, while Wilson has made beautiful things in the past. Given all the rave reviews, I wondered if I was missing something, but even after repeated listening, it doesn’t do anything for me. I just had to push myself to listen to the piece again and that's not a good sign.

Well, all hope for part two then and I think The Overview is a bit more pleasant to listen to. I do think that the female lyrics, voiced by Wilson's partner, Rotem, are far too dominant and especially at the beginning they go on a bit too long. Against a background of electronic rhythms, all kinds of scientific terms and facts are spoken. Also in this long piece of music are the familiar ingredients of everything we have heard from Wilson so far and so we also hear a bit of Porcupine Tree. But I've heard it all better, sorry. The sometimes heavily distorted bass occasionally roars firmly and that sound is certainly not standard either. It seems like Wilson is doing everything he can to make prog while he hates it. Niko Tsonev's guitar solo in A Beautiful Infinity I is also not the easiest but sounds more acceptable to me. However, one thing is as good as ever and that is the vocals, Wilson himself sings well and we also hear the necessary harmony vocals that are very beautiful. So far I didn't miss the sound of Theo Travis at all, but at the very end he can let his saxophone do the talking, this remains fairly easy listening and so side B ends with the Permanence.

I realize that I am not going to make any friends with this review but as I have said so many times, this is my experience with, and feeling about, this album. If I want to listen to Steven Wilson solo, I'll take my already mentioned favourites out and ignore The Overview.  Maybe I am just to much rooted in traditional prog and simply don't understand the real meaning of progressive. Fortunately, there will be hordes of listeners who will love this album so Mr . Wilson does not have to worry about a single Dutch review.

The artwork is also no reason to be more happy, I think it's boring.

Music 50

Cover 40