Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Wilson, Steven
Label: Kscope
Release: 2015
Length: 62:23
Rating: 4/5
Steven Wilson, the English singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and sound engineer, has been the leading name of the modern progressive rock movement for the past fifteen years, and he’s done more for it than most other prog acts in the same period put together. »Transcience« is a rare double LP that gathers some of the most vivid moments of Steven’s career between 2002 and 2015. It’s dominated by selected cuts from Wilson’s solo career plus just one track from the cult band Porcupine Tree, and even that one was re-recorded and not exactly improved over the original.
The single version of »Transcience«, »Hand Cannot Erase« and a shortened version of »Happy Returns« were picked from Steven’s current solo album »Hand. Cannot. Erase.« (2015). The fan favorites »Harmony Korine«, »Significant Other« and »Insurgentes« come from his solo debut »Insurgentes« (2008). Wilson’s second solo album »Grace For Drowning« (2011) is represented by »Postcard«, »Index« and a shortened version of »Deform to Form a Star«. »The Pin Drop« and »Drive Home« successfully recreate the dark atmosphere typical of Steven’s third solo outing »The Raven That Refused to Sing« (2013). By the way, cutting down any Wilson piece is pretty much a crime, and it only adds to the uneasy feeling of ‘accessibility to a wider audience at all costs’ hanging over this rather superfluous collection of Steven’s solo masterpieces.
Interestingly, the compilation also includes Wilson’s take on »Thank You«, originally by Alanis Morrisette. It came out in 2014 on Steven’s covers album »Cover Version«. Why a cover was chosen over so many far better original tracks is a big question mark. The one true exclusive on »Transcience« is the freshly re-recorded version of the Porcupine Tree evergreen ballad »Lazarus«. It’s quite close to the original, only it isn’t played with the same emotional fire, even though it was performed by the most technically gifted musicians Steven has worked with so far. As for the musical content of »Transcience« itself, it’s flawless, and it also nicely underlines Steven’s exceptional knack for writing prog rock evergreens with unforgettable, timeless motifs.
»Transcience« is a pretty unnecessary double LP that will only interest Wilson’s most devoted followers, since apart from the freshly re-recorded version of »Lazarus« it brings nothing new to the table. At heart it’s a ‘best of’ of Steven’s solo career, which properly kicked off in 2008, when he was already a long-established name with Porcupine Tree, even though between 2003 and 2010 he put out a few solo singles featuring covers of other artists. Releasing a ‘best of’ after just three studio albums is definitely a rather unusual, if not dubious, move. And given the very nature of his music, Steven is also one of the last musicians in the world who should be getting his hands dirty with the well-worn world of ‘best of’ compilations. So »Transcience« earns its good score purely on the strength of its musical content, not because of its ‘best of’ nature.
Lineup
Steven Wilson – vocals, acoustic guitar, keyboards
Nick Beggs – chapman stick
Guthrie Govan – slide guitar
Adam Holzman – piano, Hammond organ
Marco Minnemann – drums
Production
Steven Wilson
Tracklist
1. Transience (Single Version) (3.10)
2. Harmony Korine (5.07)
3. Postcard (4.27)
4. Significant Other (4.31)
5. Insurgentes (3.54)
6. The Pin Drop (5.01)
7. Happy Returns (Edit) (5.11)
8. Deform to Form a Star (Edit) (5.53)
9. Thank You (4.39)
10. Index (4.47)
11 Hand. Cannot. Erase. (4.13)
12. Lazarus (2015 Recording) (3.57)
13. Drive Home (7.33)
