Steven Wilson has announced his ninth solo studio album, Requiem for a Village, due out November 6th via Fiction Records. The Porcupine Tree frontman has also released the title track as its lead single along with an accompanying performance video.
Album Details
“Requiem for a Village” is a heavily groove-driven prog track. The backbone is a very King Crimson guitar riff paired against a drum part that alternates between IDM-influenced ghost note-heavy busy grooves and more accented heavy hits. Around this, additional guitars and synths have a field day, providing washes of color and glitchy effects, countermelodies and almost funky pocket. That tight focus on a solid propulsive groove makes its constant and frequent twists and turns thrilling rather than frustrating as the piece builds up and tears down layers in unpredictable ways.
David Tennant provides narration for the album, which is set in a village beyond time and space. Wilson is accompanied by XTC’s Andy Partridge, who penned the narration and some lyrics, as well as multi-instrumentalist Randy McStine, Caroline Polachek’s current drummer Russell Holzman, and vocalist Katherine Priddy.
Wilson’s Inspiration
Wilson said of his upcoming album, “I wanted to get back to a kind of music where you can hear the metaphorical thumbprints. Doubling down on the human gestures and flaws in the music, stuff that can’t be created using software. For example, using only analogue synths with all their unpredictability, or not having instruments perfectly in tune. But it also led to me picking up the violin, the oboe, or trying my hand on the drums – playing things I don’t really know how to play but getting something out of them that inspired me in ways I didn’t expect. Approaching the music with a sense of innocence and seeing where it took me. And where it took me was to the village.”
Watch the performance video for “Requiem for a Village” and see the Black Sabbath-inspired artwork and tracklist for the album below.
Requiem for a Village Artwork and Tracklist
The album artwork for Requiem for a Village is inspired by Black Sabbath and features a unique design. The tracklist includes 12 songs, including the title track and other notable tracks such as “Swirl In A Lark’s Eye”, “The Same River Twice”, and “The Old God Is Buried”.
In conclusion, Steven Wilson’s upcoming album Requiem for a Village is a highly anticipated release that promises to deliver a unique and exciting listening experience. With its blend of prog rock and electronic elements, the album is sure to appeal to fans of Porcupine Tree and King Crimson. The addition of David Tennant’s narration and the Black Sabbath-inspired artwork only adds to the album’s intrigue. Be sure to check out the performance video for the title track and mark your calendars for the album’s release on November 6th.
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