Second appointment of the week dedicated to Porcupine Tree.

 

In September 1996, Porcupine Tree released their fourth studio album, "Signify." This album is considered by the band as their true debut, marking a turning point from Steven Wilson's previous solo works. The album was followed by an extensive tour culminating in Rome in March 1997, with three dates recorded for the live album "Coma Divine - Recorded Live in Rome." This live album represents a farewell and thank you to Delerium Records, as the band felt the need for greater resources to continue their expansion. In 1998, Porcupine Tree focused on recording their fifth album, adopting a more direct and accessible approach. Without an initial record label, they later signed with Snapper Music shortly before the release of "Stupid Dream" in March 1999. The album was supported by a tour that touched many countries, including the United Kingdom, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, France, Poland, and the United States. The singles "Piano Lessons," "Stranger by the Minute," and "Pure Narcotic" gained much popularity, frequently played on radio stations. In the early 2000s, Porcupine Tree entered the studio to work on their sixth album, "Lightbulb Sun," completed in February 2000 and released in May of the same year. A sold-out show in London kicked off a brief tour in the UK, followed by participation in various European festivals and a tour supporting Dream Theater. The band continued to tour between late 2000 and early 2001, embarking on their first major tour in Germany. In 2001, Porcupine Tree signed a new international deal with Lava Records. This brought numerous economic advantages and better promotion of the new recording, but required longer and more structured tours for the band. This led to the replacement of drummer Chris Maitland with Gavin Harrison, already a collaborator of Richard Barbieri, due to Maitland's reluctance towards the new commitments required.

 

Today's listening is "Even Less," taken from the album "Stupid Dream."