In the past 2 weeks I’ve been in a permanent indecision about this column. At first I was thrilled with the idea that I can write about The Mars Volta’s “Bedlam in Goliath” and its ‘Soothsayer’ – the talking board that almost dismantled the band in what is, I might dare to say, the weirdest background story in the history of music that brought to light an exquisite album.
I hope I raised the curiosity in many of you, and probably a bit of anger regarding this album.
But, on the other hand, I chose to bore the mainstream audience with one of my favourite bands, ‘Porcupine Tree’ and its “Fear of a Blank Planet” album which frankly it reminds me of their ‘Deadwing’ – song ‘Shallow’.
Classic Rock magazine’s “2007 Album Of The Year”, ‘Fear of a Blank Planet” is the 9th studio material of the British progressive rock band ‘Porcupine Tree’, and it saw daylight on 16th of April 2007.
The founder of ‘Porcupine Tree’, Steve Wilson explained that ‘Fear of a Blank Planet’( also Transmission 6.1) is a direct reference to Public Enemy album, Fear of a Black Planet – ‘The race relations were a major issue when it was released and I see coming to terms with information technology and… The 21st Century as a modern issue”
Transmission 6.1 is a 50 minutes recording that in comparison with its predecessor flows in a sort of a thematic and musical continuity from one song to the other. This is because Wilson wanted a piece of music that could be listened at once, describing it as an approach to the 70’s records of moderate length prevented the listener from losing his focus.
The record bares the influence of Bret Eastons Ellis’ novel “Lunar Park” which tells the story from the point of view of a father named Bret, whereas the album is told from his son’s perspective, a ten-year-old named Robby. The majority of the lyrics are lifted directly from the novel (especially “My Ashes” which is homage of the last chapter where the ashes of Bret’s father are scattered and, thus, cover the memories of his life).
“…this kind of terminally bored kid, anywhere between 10 and 15 years old, who spends all his daylight hours in his bedroom with the curtains closed, playing on his PlayStation, listening to his iPod, texting his friends on his cell phone, looking at hardcore pornography on the Internet, downloading music, films, news, violence… He’s also on prescription drugs. Parents these days seem to deal with their kids’ problems not by sitting down and talking to them but by sending them to the doctor and getting them prescription drugs – which is kind of tragic, really.”
Steve Wilson’s description of the album in an interview of Revolver magazine.
The question raised in this situation is simple.
Will this stereotype evolve or will it seize? Will we be overcome by what we create? And, as much as a cliché might it sound, this is a lively question.
The 21st Century has a terrible effect. It casts a long shallow shadow over the weak and unprepared youth of the 1st WORLD COUNTRIES.
Porcupine Tree’s record has the ability to create a PHOBIA towards technology and its slaves.
the same radioactive toy
