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Porcupine Tree / new album: ‘Closure /Continuation’

Steven Wilson’s rock band returns

By Paul Sinclair

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62

Porcupine Tree / New album 'Closure/Continuation'

British rock band Porcupine Tree return in 2022, after a hiatus of over a decade, with a new studio album Closure/Continuation and dates in place for a UK/European tour.

Porcupine Tree are Steven Wilson, Richard Barbieri and Gavin Harrison, a hugely influential, ‘genre-defying’ rock band dreamt up by Wilson in 1987 as an outlet for experimental recordings he was making outside of his synth-pop duo No-Man. They released ten albums between 1992’s On The Sunday of Life and 2009’s The Incident, including the critically acclaimed In Absentia from 2002. Following their biggest live show up to that point at the Royal Albert Hall in October 2010, it all went quiet.

Porcupine Tree photographed by Alex Lake

The new album, Closure/Continuation is described as being “over a decade in the making” and you can preview a track from the album, Harridan, below.

The band have the following to say about it:

“’Harridan’ and a few of the other new songs have been in play since shortly after the release of The Incident. They initially lived on a hard drive in a slowly growing computer file marked PT2012, later renamed PT2015, PT2018, and so on. There were times when we even forgot they were there, and times when they nagged us to finish them to see where they would take us. Listening to the finished pieces, it was clear that this wasn’t like any of our work outside of the band – the combined DNA of the people behind the music meant these tracks were forming what was undeniably, unmistakably, obviously a Porcupine Tree record. You’ll hear all of that DNA flowing right through ‘Harridan’.”

Closure/Continuation is a seven-track album (the track listing hasn’t been revealed) and will be available on CD, 2LP black vinyl, 2LP blue vinyl, cassette and as two limited edition box sets (3LP or 2CD+blu-ray).

The limited edition 3LP box is a 45RPM pressing on audiophile approved crystal clear vinyl and includes two bonus tracks.

The 2CD+blu-ray deluxe set includes three bonus tracks, instrumental versions, 5.1 and Dolby Atmos versions plus hi-res 96/24 stereo. This comes in a large format art book presentation.

The box sets, the 2LP blue vinyl and the cassette are exclusive to the Official Porcupine Tree Shop. JPC in Germany have a worldwide exclusive on a sky blue 2LP vinyl version and a white vinyl 2LP set is available via indie stores including Rough Trade in the UK.

The 2CD+blu-ray deluxe box set of Closure/Continuation (click image to enlarge)

The bad news is that the album isn’t released until June next year and those tour dates will follow in October/November 2022. The good news is that all pre-orders at the official shop offer access to pre-sale tickets for those UK and European dates. Dates for the Americas and Canada will be announced shortly.

Closure/Continuation will be released on 24 June 2022 via Music For Nations/Sony.

Browse the Official Porcupine Tree Shop for formats and bundles

Shop highlights:

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62 Comments

62 thoughts on “Porcupine Tree / new album: ‘Closure /Continuation’”

  1. Is there any information about the difference of the tracklisting and spanning of the tracks for the regular 2LP vs. the 3LP Deluxe version?

  2. Confirmed (that) my Tull “Benefit” 5.1 bookset is “in” at my local CdTrader last night, so what a (Fall) season for surround-sound, pop/rock enthusiasts and collectors — and now this news from Porcupine Tree.

    Whew!

    Would love to see the new, (P-Tree) 2 CD/BR (surround-sound) large format box (set) offered for sale through AMERICAN outlets, Steven et al — along with a N/A tour schedule. I’ve waited several days to comment (here) hoping to source some news on this front to no avail…

    FTR, and frankly, I’ve run out of space (like so many of us), so a cd/5.1 Blu-ray (double or multi case with insert) offering works for me.

    Ta!

  3. Done ! two tickets for the upcoming Porcupine Tree concert in Paris the 2 nd Novembe 2022! Even if the new track remind me a bit of Vermillioncore (4 and a half) it is the music i was waiting for . The question is who will handle the bass works on tour : Nick Beggs ok but it will remind a lot o SW solo . And for which set list ? Steven played a lot of PT song on his last tours (Radioactive Toy, Lazarus , Dont hate me , Sleep Together, Sound of Muzak, Arriving somewhere , Heart attack …) for the best .
    So anyway i probably get the cd and the vinyl standart editions and go on listening to Harridan on streaming services till june 2022

  4. I came a bit late to the PT party: 2005’s brilliant “Deadwing” album. Ended up seeing them three times that year alone, and three more times in 2007, 2009 & 2010 (a killer show at the Fillmore or Warfield in SF – forgot which venue). Seen SW now on every solo tour also. He’s been hinting that this reunion was a possibility, and I am really glad he’s decided to bring it back. I’ve always contended that if they were around in the 70s, they’d have been straddling arenas along with Yes, Floyd, ELP, etc. It seems to me that Steven may be able to take this to the next level in the US. The UK/Euro gigs are largely in arenas. I would love to go to the Forum here in L.A. or Staples Center and see them get to that level. Lots of bands seem to get to the Forum these days that you wouldn’t think we’re arena level, so why not a revived Porcupine Tree. I can dream, can’t I? And damn if I could resist the CD/BR set. It comes out two days before my next birthday! How could I resist?

    1. I concur, Mike! “Shallow” caught my ear in ‘05 and I still didn’t “bite” on modern surround ‘til I joined SDE! All credit to Paul Sinclair for expanding my musical-palette, while also inspiring me to continue my (modern) surround-sound collection, as I was “burned” back in the late 70s (~1977), when the record companies (quietly – or not so, depending on the source) dumped QUAD.

      To bad about Amoeba, but we still have: Rockaway, Freakbeat Records and CdTraders, for now, Mike.

      I, too, believe Steven (solo) and P-Tree should be filling STADIUMS and Arenas! Every LEGAL immigrant I meet in SoCal (struggling with ESL) finds common ground via SW or P-Tree music — Music: the language that transcends all!

      Regardless, SW and PT have a HUGE, international fan-base. Unfortunately, here in America, “the suits” marketed boy/girl pop(tart) acts and (c)RAP in the late 90s and early ‘aughts sending potential SW/PT fans to the rock’ified (Nashville) country-music genre, for a generation.

      Addendum: STP’s “Tiny Music…” (RE’d spring ‘21) had a R-E-A-L ATMOS mix prepared for this RE, but record executives “pulled it” (last minute) from the ‘21 RE’d SDE BOXSET. I believe it can be streamed (now) as a “lossy” ATMOS-codec on Tidal and Apple Music.

      We, as a group (and individually), MUST petition WARNER Music Group to release a PHYSICAL DISC with this NEW, “Tiny Music…” surround mix! “They” do follow this site amongst others and a limited 10K-disc pressing D2C and then to retailers (and even an extended-pressing “run”) is NOT a pipe-dream, if we get some “traction.”

      We need to ensure that we can always “HOLD THE MUSIC IN OUR HANDS.” This move to multi-channel streaming-only MUST be stopped. Now!

      Cheers!

  5. Steven Wilson is indeed an exceptional multiinstrumentalist… But the basswork does sound very much “in the chords” (!!) of my beloved Nick.
    However I would not bet on this 100%… Would be great if it was him, absolutely.

    Wonderful surprise, one of the pleasure bringing comebacks of this second horrible year.

    2. JPC are also offering the 2CD+Blu-Ray boxed set at a more reasonable price, subtracting VAT, and still have reasonable shipping costs to the USA. Have used them several times since other retailers jacked up their shipping costs.

      2. Took the plunge with JPC – €56.64 delivered to the USA! That’s about $65/£48 versus $100.50/£73.50 from the PT TM Store. I hope JPC get the copies to sell next year.

      3. My last JPC order to Florida was sent straight back to them by Miami Customs. Seeds of love SDE. I do not want to take that risk again. Not their fault but still…. peace

        1. I have made several orders with JPC after Amazon UK hiked costs horribly last year (Ultravox – Vienna box, Porcupine Tree – Delirium Years (heavy) box, King Crimson – Court 50th 3CD+ Blu-ray, Simple Minds – SFY Box, Yello Point blu-ray, Marillion – Fugazi Bookset) and while I have to sign for each item, and sometimes had to pick it up from the PO or request redelivery, I’ve never had an item returned without my having an opportunity to get the item from USPS. JPC’scustomer service has been good as well. The biggest issue I have had is my Credit Card company sometimes blocking payment.

          Sounds like your experience was a USPS problem. Recently, I heard that it is possible to send mail to Australia from the US (WTF!). USPS certainly has some issues to figure out.

  7. A reminder to those racing to order any version of this — I was one too! — is that PayPal charges you NOW, for a release that’s eight months away. But, if you put it on a credit or debit card, they don’t actually charge you until it ships. Amazon does this as well, and this is what is says on the Wilson store site in the “Help Centre”:

    “Orders placed via PayPal will be charged at the time of placing the order, regardless of whether the items are on pre-order or not. For orders placed via credit or debit card; the order total is typically pre-authorised in order to confirm and secure your items. This amount is simply ring-fenced by your bank and is not sent to us. This is reflected back into your account by your bank within 3-5 working days. The time it takes for this to return to you is dictated by your card issuer, we have no control over this, or whether a pre-authorisation would be in place. When we come to process the order for dispatch, we then fully debit this amount from your account if we haven’t already.“

    1. True, but this can cause problems if your payment card expires between now and then. Depends how much you’re willing to risk the possibility of missing out on a limited item.

    2. That’s always the case with Paypal orders (or pre-orders). In my case I actually prefer it this way, so an almost $200 charge won’t happen 8 months from now when I’ve forgotten about it.

      1. It’s all a matter of personal choice; I have one payment card I use exclusively for online purchases and it doesn’t expire until fall 2023, so I’m good. And, I prefer to pay for something around the time I’m getting it. I can’t imagine how much PayPal and banks make in interest on purchases paid for many months before the customer actually gets their merchandise. Like I say, no right or wrong, but it does make a difference to some people, so I was just mentioning you have choice to pay now or pay later while still securing your order now.

  8. I knew he’d come back. I know this is polarizing to say, but SW to me just isn’t very good at pop. He excels at that darkish rock stuff though, and Harridan is a great teaser.

    I’m dying to know who that is on bass guitar though. Definitely not Colin’s signature sound; it’s too “clacky,” almost slap-like. Maybe SW proper? Or Nick Beggs?

    1. I have really liked SW’s solo albums, with TFB being my favourite album of 2021 so far. Was listening to The Raven that Refused to Sing last night in 5.1 on the blu-ray. I wouldn’t classify the title track and Drive Home as rock, but I love that and the progressive side of SW versus the harder rock sound. Still have been unable to get into The Incident.

  9. This is utterly thrilling news: I had been fervently hoping that this was one of the projects that Steven Wilson was obliquely referring to in some recent interviews. I discovered PT well after their 2010 disbandment, primarily through an interest in the amazing Gavin Harrison, and I was instantly hooked. Since then, my love of The Tree expanded into anything / everything SW, so they’re far and away my biggest musical discovery! So, it was an instant preorder on one of the box-set bundles… Wilson’s commitment to (quality) physical product is admirable. Shame that Colin Edwin is no longer involved, but Harridan is a really strong track to return with.

      1. I have heard the IEM one, but not the others as yet. When I discover an artist I’m really passionate about, I tend to go completist on the exploration… Wilson is such an interesting artist to me – I particularly love No-Man.

  12. Just bought the Let it be vinyl deluxe edition, then Tatto you 2 cds set, will get Radiohead 3 ds KIDAMNESIA, then Toy 3 cds …so with this excellent news in mind it will be the standart cd edition of PT and( if i can get it) two concert tickets, then at the merch stand a tee shirt , then a program tour ….and again and again

    1. Worm, I’m a bass player going back to the mid-1980s, and I’ve learned Colin’s “sound” if you will, and I don’t think that’s him in the Harridan single. It would be odd for him to play slap bass with an octavizer. If it’s not Colin, only think I can think of is that’s actually Steven (who plays bass on Home Invasion, iirc), and he’s set the action on the bass super low, so that when he’s using a guitar pick, it smacks the string against the neck to create a slap-like sound. With that, and his absence in the new photos SW posted of the band, I’m curious if he’s going to be part of this.

      I could be all wrong on how the bass was done for Harridan though, but it does sound like it’s being routed through some effects (which again really isn’t Colin’s thing).

  16. Ordered the boxset bundle for £100 including the signed print LIMITED TO 1000 COPIES from Steven’s website. SOLD OUT BY 12pm. Only to see them REAPPEAR on the site at 4pm, this time the LIMITED TO 1000 has been removed and they are back up for sale not limited anymore. Surely SW isn’t playing the whole “they’ve sold out so let’s make them not limited anymore” game.

  18. Welcome back Steven, all is forgiven! I immediately ordered the CD/BR box set from the PT store.
    Harridan sounds like it features Nick Beggs on bass, which if true is likely to result in very interesting interplay with Gavin Harrison during the live shows.

  19. This is really exciting news. Thank you Paul.

    I’m not sure I know what “audiophile approved” means but just knowing that someone thought of the quality of the recording makes this a worthwhile purchase by itself.

    Perhaps there needs to be a sticker “audiophile approved” on the releases that have been mastered well just like the Tipper Gore promoted and Lard Ulrich / Alice Cooper eschewed “Explicit Lyrics” sticker.
    I may have to get married to a politician and go in front of the US Congress to get that……

    1. I normally take that with a pinch of salt, but with Steven’s involvement and the fact that they’re 45RPM, I think they’ll be good.

  20. AWESOME NEWS! – HMV have the Deluxe CD Box Set on pre-order, so I don’t think that’s exclusive to PT’s TM stores. It’s £64.99 so £4 more (as their UK shipping is free, whereas TM want £6) but HMV do a ‘pre-order price guarantee so if the price drops between time of ordering and release you only pay the lowest.

    1. Was prepared to drop a small fortune but evidently, the global store is really global (except the US). If you’re in the US you only get what’s available in the US store. So, no blue vinyl, no bundles and no signed print. Unfortunate. Still really excited about the release. Just a slight case of fomo that I’m sure will pass. I did get the green and blue. Many thanks for that info!

      Update – I was able to get the signed print with the t-shirt/CD bundle from the global store.

  24. Great news obviously, but who is on bass these days? Could it be Lord Nicholas of Beggs by any chance? Certainly sounds like him. In fact, I think it’s fair to say that Haridan sounds remarkably similar to Mr Wilson’s output around the time of “Hand.Cannot.Erase”. Thoughts?

    1. See my comment above. With everybody mentioning Beggs, I’m beginning to think that’s a possibility. But I can almost say for certain that’s not Colin. Colin’s tone is warmer, and he never really approached any sound as “clacky” or “slappy” as the bassline in Harridan (while with PT). My first thought was that it is actually SW, who we know played bass on Home Invasion. Plus, Colin is missing from the new band pics.

  25. Great unexpected news!
    While I enjoy Steven Wilson solo albums, I tend to revisit more to the Porcupine Tree catalogue.

    Played Coma Divine only yesterday and loved it…
    I am surprised they’ve announced it so early though, now got a long wait.

    Thanks.

  27. Bit of a knee-jerk purchase, wanted to get the art print so went for a bundle, might have to sell on the blue vinyl to recoup some of the cost as I only really want the CD/Bluray boxset.

      1. White vinyl is indie-only. Townsend Music are an indie store and therefore can list it on their website. However it can’t be on the band’s D2C store, even if Townsend are running it. That’s the explanation.

  30. This is great news, other than the single UK date (for now) being at Wembley. Incidentally, as usual you don’t have to pre-order the album to gain access to the ticket pre-sale. There’s a “No purchase necessary” option. Yet are the band really going to hand sign the 11,000 art prints on offer? I fear a Van Morrison scenario here.

        1. I can only see six… regardless, few people – if anyone – is going to buy multiple bundles. I think it’s reasonable to assume there’s 1000 signed prints.

  31. Had to be the first to comment on this. Fantastic news… to get a new album AND tour is just amazing. Don’t really know what else to say :-)

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