I am watching Porcupine Tree's DVD of Anesthetize again, because I am impressed with the quality of the video and the grandiosity of the music. Each song is handpicked to tell a story or even better, to provide psychoanalysis for modern man. At first I was turned off by the lyrics in "Fear of a Blank Planet", because I thought the group was attempting to appeal to the high school generation of today. But like all great poets their lyrics are loose enough for you to imagine your own perspectives to make sense of the song’s lyrics. In fact, I would say, in order to enjoy this DVD you need to be creative in your own mind and let them take you to a new realm, which will expose some issues in your life, but in the end will give you a new perspective on life in a greater way. The DVD is a spiritual experience for those who will allow.
Let me make this clear. You cannot enjoy nor judge this DVD by watching on a computer or even on TV without a surround sound system. You must have good volume, DTS capability and a good sub-woofer; otherwise you will not experience this concert.
Fear of a Blank Planet strikes me again with what makes PT's lyrics interesting is their dark and foreboding style. But if you allow them to speak to you the result will be enlightening. They are making a contrast to this gritty world experience and the other musical/spiritual world they want to take you to. If you are a fan of Yes, then you will understand that classic progressive rock is a spiritual experience. I don't relate to the words “X Box is a god to me” or the alienation from my parents lyrics directly, but deep inside I still struggle with rebellion, which in modern terms is what this represents. I am a 70's hippie, so the beat of the beginning of this song is too hard rock for me. I let PT take me on this musical ride, because I know what great
musicians and artists they are. There is a purpose and a plan to their music, so I will listen patiently. They refer to a face being like mogadon, which the Urban Dictionary defines: “‘A thinking man's mogadon', something that would put a man of intelligence to sleep.” They approach a difficult subject in this song about medication that the modern world is depending on whether its Haldol, Ritalin, Paxil, etc. What is this medication doing to our society and our individual minds? I know that medication calms the bipolar person into boredom, but can we cope with the ups and downs of their maniacal thoughts. The big question though is: are we killing creativity with medication, because it will take some patience with the other side effects of mental instability to get there? You know the best part of a hard rock Prog song is the contrast the beautiful quieter music creates. We the rock listeners would not typically buy the soft and pretty music, which is basically new age, but when the tune is mixed in with the pounding drums and bass we comply. Steve Wilson and John Wesley are master guitar musicians intertwining their guitar licks with each other. You must identify which guitar is coming out of which speaker to fully enjoy their interchanges. Steve Wilson’s voice is another piece of the puzzle that makes PT what it is.
My Ashes reminds me of an old James Gang song title and Richard Barbieri’s keyboards take me right into the next song. Then out of the soft guitar music wafts John Wesley’s voice in high pitch perfection. Whoa! Beautiful lyrics: “…and my ashes drift beneath the silver sky…” - pure
poetry. “…and my ashes find a way beyond the fog and return to find the child I forgot…” Now it is up to the listener to place his own emotions, memories and wonders into these lyrics and be swept off their feet into a new and magical world. The drums are solid the keyboards serene, but all creates a song of worship. Worship of what, you may ask, but that is up to you to determine. John Wesley is a dramatic looking warrior from Old England.
Anesthetize can you believe that drum set of Colin Edwin’s? The cameras show a view of the drums from the top and what a layout masterpiece. Each drum-head is worn and arranged in an elegant, yet efficient layout. He is not a show-off drummer, nor is the rest of the band, so I give credit to the videographer for creating an entertaining video. “…I simply am not here…” is the main lyric of this song and how do you interpret this phrase? On this musical and topographic voyage I would say this is a valley of reflection; a look in the mirror, so to speak. The plodding music and solemn words give you time to meditate in the midst of a rock symphony. As the music crescendos during John Wesley’s guitar solo, this enraptures the soul. I used to try and decide which guitar player was the best: John or Steve, but now I know they are both the best! Just when you think the song could not get any better, Steve reaches over his guitar and plays the keyboard. This is where the concert starts to take flight, where the musicians move into the subconscious flow in an effortless dance inviting us to come along for the ride. Then suddenly we are shaken to the hardest rock rhythms they have played to date, knocking us to our senses and then taking us into our primal self. Porcupine Tree is a man’s band, just look at the audience. “Only apathy from the pills in me…” marks the theme of the song and the melodramatic concert. What is happening to our society? There is nothing better than when PT jams to the swirl of the magic keyboards. PT never gets boring because their music is always transforming and swirling along the edge of these keys. The listener needs to go with the flow and let it take you where it will. Suddenly you will be surprised as they move show like acts in a play, bringing you back to a healing and awaking theme. Then get ready, because all three guitars break free with a solid drum beat from the swirling keys into an electrical light flashing world that exposes our rawest inner man. Then as if transitioning into a whole new song the lights go down, the keyboard rises softly with lyrics that bring refreshing waves of healing. These musicians are ‘medicine men of old’ freeing us from our bondages of TV and drugs to a new peaceful and more natural existence, waves of peace flowing over all who listen with their heart and not their mind. Let it flow. The voices of John and Steve intertwine beautifully at this point in a melodious refrain.
Sentimental – “Stoned in the mall the kids play and this way wish away each day…” causes us to reflect on society once again with our shopping addictions. Each American wishes for the work week to go by quickly, so the weekend will arrive, but in this way we wish away our lives and suddenly find ourselves in old age. I have noted that kids stoned in the mall are a central theme to PT’s method of causing us to question our society, which is a poetic metaphor for all of western society. Interesting they title this song sentimental, which is a beautifully poetic word. Could they want us to reflect with a higher and more refined tender emotion as the word describes? Emotions are what are missing from a society of addicts and medicated individuals. I dare say this concert is a therapy session for all who will lie down and take in the message.
Cover of Mark Farner
