Up the Downstair | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 7 June 1993 [1] | |||
Recorded | February 1992 – January 1993 | |||
Studio | No Man's Land (Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England) | |||
Genre | Progressive rock, space rock, psychedelic rock | |||
Length | 47:59 | |||
Label | Delerium | |||
Producer | Steven Wilson | |||
Porcupine Tree chronology | ||||
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [2] |
MMMDI | (8/10) [3] |
Up the Downstair is the second studio album by British progressive rock band Porcupine Tree, first released in June 1993. It was originally intended to be a double album set including the song "Voyage 34", which was instead released as a single in 1992, and other material that ended up on the Staircase Infinities EP (1994). In 2005, it was partially re-recorded, fully re-mixed, remastered and re-released along with the Staircase Infinities EP as a double album. The re-release contains a re-mix by Steven Wilson incorporating newly recorded drums by Gavin Harrison that replace the electronic drums of the original version. Another re-release on double vinyl was pressed on 14 August 2008 on Kscope records. This is identical to the 2005 release, except it is printed on coloured vinyl and the Staircase Infinities disc contains the song "Phantoms". [4]
According to Wilson, Up the Downstair channeled "the Orb and the Future Sound of London, but also Floyd and Ozric Tentacles. If I liked it, I didn’t give a fuck." [5]
All music written by Steven Wilson.
No. | Title | Lyrics | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "What You Are Listening To..." | 0:58 | |
2. | "Synesthesia" | Wilson | 5:11 |
3. | "Monuments Burn into Moments" | 0:20 | |
4. | "Always Never" | Alan Duffy | 6:58 |
5. | "Up the Downstair" | 10:03 |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Not Beautiful Anymore" | 3:26 | |
2. | "Siren" | 0:52 | |
3. | "Small Fish" | Duffy | 2:43 |
4. | "Burning Sky" | 11:06 | |
5. | "Fadeaway" | Duffy | 6:19 |
Many songs differ a little in length in the revamped edition of Up the Downstair.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "What You Are Listening To..." | 0:57 |
2. | "Synesthesia" | 5:16 |
3. | "Monuments Burn into Moments" | 0:22 |
4. | "Always Never" | 7:00 |
5. | "Up the Downstair" | 10:14 |
6. | "Not Beautiful Anymore" | 3:25 |
7. | "Siren" | 0:57 |
8. | "Small Fish" | 2:42 |
9. | "Burning Sky" | 11:36 |
10. | "Fadeaway" | 6:19 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Cloud Zero" | 4:40 |
2. | "The Joke's on You" | 4:17 |
3. | "Navigator" | 4:49 |
4. | "Rainy Taxi" | 6:50 |
5. | "Yellow Hedgerow Dreamscape" | 9:36 |
Professional reviews: [6]
Porcupine Tree are an English rock band formed by musician Steven Wilson in 1987. During an initial career spanning more than twenty years, they earned critical acclaim from critics and fellow musicians, developed a cult following, and became an influence for new artists. The group carved out a career at a certain distance away from mainstream music, being described by publications such as Classic Rock and PopMatters as "the most important band you'd never heard of".
Steven John Wilson is an English musician. He is the founder, guitarist, lead vocalist and songwriter of the rock band Porcupine Tree, as well as being a member of several other bands, including Blackfield, Storm Corrosion and No-Man. He is also a solo artist, having released seven solo albums since his solo debut Insurgentes in 2008. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Wilson has made music prolifically and earned critical acclaim. His honours include six nominations for Grammy Awards: twice with Porcupine Tree, once with his collaborative band Storm Corrosion and three times as a solo artist. In 2017, The Daily Telegraph described him as "a resolutely independent artist" and "probably the most successful British artist you've never heard of".
Richard Barbieri is an English musician, composer and sound designer. Originally a member of new wave band Japan, more recently he is known as the keyboard player in the progressive rock band Porcupine Tree, which he joined in 1993. Aside from the founder Steven Wilson, he is the longest tenured member of Porcupine Tree.
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