Released: Nov 26, 2008
Genre: Drone, Shoegazing, Industrial, Art Rock
Label: Kscope
Number Of Tracks: 10
Insurgentes is the title of the first full-length solo album released by British musician and record producer Steven Wilson, known for being the founder and frontman in psychedelic/progressive rock band Porcupine Tree.
Insurgentes
Reviewed by:
tangled, on may 28, 2009 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Sound: The album is very hypnotic and fascinating on an intimate level. At first I thought album was a bit boring, it took a few listens for me to start feelings its effects. I find it to be very complex and with many moments of subtle and vibrant beauty. I listen to it often and find its grows on me more with each listen. Each time I listen to the album start to finish I hear something new that I had not noticed ever before. The sound quality is of the up most finest. // 10
Lyrics and Singing: Vocals sound great. Wilson is a very good lyricist. Though the lyrics are not included in the booklet, they are very clear and easy to understand. I find the lyrics relate very personally in a strange twisted way. They are very well sung and quite beautiful, awesome and expressive. // 8
Impression: Its a very mysterious and unique album. The subtle brilliance of each instrument (especially the percussion) brings about a very think and rich atmospheric quality from start to finish that I often find myself lost in. With a very reserved dramatic expression, its pretty easy to for some amazing moments within the songs to fly right over your head at the end of "no twilight within the courts of the sun" there is a hauntingly strange piano and hypnotic piano part then silence. Then the drums start to really rip out a double bass blast beat type pattern and things get pretty heavy for a moment then the songs over. I love it, it sounds so cool and yet its so subtle and easy to miss. The photography in the book is pretty cool as well. // 9
Insurgentes
Reviewed by:
thenewblack745, on december 05, 2008 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Sound: The long awaited album has come. Steven Wilson's first solo album "Insurgentes" has arrived. Well at least the special deluxe edition, but the retail album will be released in Feb. But getting to the point, this is an amazing album. It has all the professional work you would expect from Steven Wilson, with some of the most experimental work he has done. Fans of Porcupine Tree and Blackfield will look at the Steven Wilson completely differently after looking at the album. The most standard rock song on the album is "Harmony Korine" which gloriously opens the album. After that each song shows off Wilson's many sounds. Backing him the entire album is the amazing drummer Gavin Harrison. The sound of the album would be best described as a mixture of standard rock with drone, ambient and even shoe-gaze. All this brings a totally unique sound to the album which has never been heard by the likes of Porcupine Tree, Blackfield or any other SW project. // 10
Lyrics and Singing: Steven Wilson is my favorite vocalist ever. Hands down. His relaxed vocal style fits perfectly within his music. Moving from incredibly warm to oddly creepy and brutal. One odd innovation you'll notice in the music is that sometimes the vocal line will play backup to another idea coming from guitars or other instruments. The lyrics... are sometimes endlessly confusing, but always work well with the music. "Get All You Deserve" shows this perfectly. // 10
Impression: Good God this is an awesome album. It shows a truly unique sound and leaves you begging for more. My personal favorites from the album are "Harmony Korine" "Significant Other" and "Insurgentes". The only thing I don't like about this album is how "Venamo Para Los Hadas" sounds very similiar to "We Lost the Skyline" from the Porcupine Tree album "Sky Moves Sideways". Still a good song, but it annoyed me a little bit. Otherwise, absolutely awesome album. // 10
Just pre-ordered the retail version, with which SW generously gives you an mp3 copy of the album until your hard copy arrives (release date is Feb 09 I believe). This album is a masterpiece. 'Nuff said.
I'm surprised so many people love the album so much...is there something I'm just not getting? I love old and new PT, theyre easily my favourite band, and while Insurgentes is filled with some great soundscapes, a consistent mood and the production quality that SW is known for now, i just dont see where the decent songwriting is...theres harmony korine and the title track, and everything else sorta just shifts into the distance. not because its bad music, in fact there are great moments but theres just not enough decent structure and songwriting to actually carry it through. anyone else feel the same?
I'm surprised so many people love the album so much...is there something I'm just not getting? I love old and new PT, theyre easily my favourite band, and while Insurgentes is filled with some great soundscapes, a consistent mood and the production quality that SW is known for now, i just dont see where the decent songwriting is...theres harmony korine and the title track, and everything else sorta just shifts into the distance. not because its bad music, in fact there are great moments but theres just not enough decent structure and songwriting to actually carry it through. anyone else feel the same?
I'm guessing you haven't listened to many other SW projects? Listen to those (particularly BC) and you will hear where he's coming from.
Harmony.Korine wrote:
I'm guessing you haven't listened to many other SW projects? Listen to those (particularly BC) and you will hear where he's coming from.
You're right I haven't heard any BC, but I really like the three albums of No-Man that I have (Returning Jesus, Together We're Stranger, and Schoolyard Ghosts)
I've been disciplining myself to listen to nothing but Insurgentes these past few days, 'cause I really want the album to grow on me. And I think it is, slowly but surely
The album is a little frighteningly ambitious. At first listen on a couple tracks I felt a little distant. But after hearing some of the undertones and other musical effects most of the songs grew on me. And I think there is a major difference between No-man's ambient and experiments than Insurgentes. I'm not exactly sure what it is, perhaps it is darker overall...still not sure.
i disagree, wilson had better projects with experimental and drone music such as Incredible Expanding Mind**** and Bass Communion. I think that this longplay is one of his worst achievements
I am so glad at least someone thinks its crap, even though I don't anymore after a LOT more listens, but I definitely felt that way at first. I still think the album is 'missing something' and i wouldn't call it a masterpiece, but you really have to get into the mood of it to appreciate it.
I just really, really hope that Wilson doesn't adopt the same minimalistic, semi-bullsh*t lyrical style that he does on Insurgentes. Sure, it has *some* meaning, to Steven, but not to me. Thats partly why I don't connect with the album very well either.
I agree with the review, this album is incredible. I'm also surprised no one has mentioned the song "Only Child". I think that song is awesome, I love the bass.
HEY EVERYONE! THIS REVIEW (or at least the first line of it) IS CURRENTLY ON THE "ALBUM REVIEWS" PAGE OF INSURGENTES.ORG!!! Just thought I'd say that, it's kinda exciting.
HEY EVERYONE! THIS REVIEW (or at least the first line of it) IS CURRENTLY ON THE "ALBUM REVIEWS" PAGE OF INSURGENTES.ORG!!! Just thought I'd say that, it's kinda exciting.
you should feel honored
yeah, its a great record, can't wait for my copy to arrive finally! then i'll really fall in love with it!
I finally got my copy today. It's perfect. I'm yet fully look at all the extras and stuff, but what I've heard of the cd is brilliance, in my opinion.
Once again, Steven Wilson blows us away.
By the way, a little error in the review.
'We lost the skyline' is actually just the song 'The Sky Moves Sideways'. It's the first line. It's also featured as an acoustic song on the EP called We Lost The Skyline.
Trivial matter though, but just thought I'd clear it up in case anyone else missed it.
I'm surprised so many people love the album so much...is there something I'm just not getting? I love old and new PT, theyre easily my favourite band, and while Insurgentes is filled with some great soundscapes, a consistent mood and the production quality that SW is known for now, i just dont see where the decent songwriting is...theres harmony korine and the title track, and everything else sorta just shifts into the distance. not because its bad music, in fact there are great moments but theres just not enough decent structure and songwriting to actually carry it through. anyone else feel the same?
I actually agree with you. I think Harmony, Salvaging, No Twilight, Only Child, Get All You Deserve, and Insurgentes are good songs, but there does seem to be something missing from the record. First of all, it has songs on it that i think are mediocre, and that rarely ever happens for me with Wilson related things. Also, the record lacks consistency. I know he wanted to make something that didn't sound like any of his other projects, but it comes off to me as a little slapdash. The songs sound too individual and not part of some whole, a problem i also have with deadwing.
Oh, and your name is a reference to one of my favorite albums ever made: dead air for radios. Kudos
I found this, but, surprisingly, no Grace For Drowning review yet. This angers me. It needs a great review. And God knows I'm too damn lazy to write it. C'mon, UG community.
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steven wilson FTW