Steven Wilson – The Raven That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories)
KScope
www.ksopemusic.com/stevenwilson

Rating: B+

Steven Wilson is best known as the founder, lead guitarist and vocalist of Prog Masters Porcupine Tree.  While that is his main gig, the workaholic muse tends to load himself up with solo releases and numerous other side projects making him one of the busiest musicians in his genre. 

His latest release The Raven That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories) may go down as one of his best complete works.  Outside of Prog Rock there are few artists who care to make complete albums, even in Prog, the cohesive, flowing and meaningful complete album is a rarity, even more so one that is done right!  With The Raven Wilson has done it right.  

The album is in many ways a throwback to the days of Yes, ELP and King Crimson.  With just six tracks the album nearly runs an entire hour.  There are soothing Floydian lyrical passages mixing with intensive guitar soloing and other virtuoso musicianship throughout.  The title track, “Lumino” is over twelve minutes of pure musical bliss while “”The Watcher” and “The Holy Drinker” are two of the best composed epics of Wilson’s career.  

The complete album is something important to Wilson.  So much so that he sought out someone who knows a thing or two about progressive rock songs having the word ‘raven’ in them, Engineer Alan Parsons, to work on the album.  The result is one of Prog’s Best of 2013.

Tracks Listing:
1. Luminol (12.10)
2. Drive Home (7.37)
3. The Holy Drinker (10.13)
4. The Pin Drop (5.03)
5. The Watchmaker (11.43)
6. The Raven that Refused to Sing (7.57)

The Band:
Guthrie Govan / lead guitar
Nick Beggs / bass guitar
Marco Minnemann / drums
Adam Holzman / keyboards
Theo Travis / saxophone, flute
Steven Wilson / vocals, guitars, keyboards

By Jeb Wright