Steven Wilson - The Harmony Codex (September 29, 2023) Album

Steven Wilson's seventh solo album, and first since the Porcupine Tree reunion album.

First single, Economies of Scale was released today, with Impossible Tightrope to follow next week.

Releasing through Virgin Music on September 29th, 2023.



1. Inclination
2. What Life Brings
3. Economies of Scale
4. Impossible Tightrope
5. Rock Bottom
6. Beautiful Scarecrow
7. The Harmony Codex
8. Time Is Running Out
9. Actual Brutal Facts
10. Staircase

Not sure if we have many Wilson/Porcupine Tree fans here but figured it was worth a try!

 

I'm a prog guy and have always been slightly intrigued by how prolific he is but have appreciated him more as a producer and cowriter with Opeth than anything else. Will check this out though.

 

The defining attribute of his solo discography is that he's kind of just been doing whatever he wants, so this might be very different than you expect, even if you have a reference point from some earlier Porcupine Tree albums. He definitely keeps you guessing each album regarding which sound he'll pursue, but I've come to love that, even if I don't enjoy the album that comes from it.

I like the new song, but it doesn't blow me away; sounds like a progression of the palette he's been playing with since Hand Cannot Erase (his best solo work, IMO) and on The Future Bites.

The ten second clip on his Instagram of the song he is releasing next week sounds totally wild though, instantly reminded me of the big prog epics he's written earlier in his solo career.

 

I'll check it out. I really like some of his stuff although there's a ton I've still not got around to checking out.

 

extremely excited for this one. steven wilson is probably my favorite songwriter ever, and an exploration of the more electronic themes from the future bites but from a more progressive window is right up my alley.

 

I was away last week but it looks like we got another new song! Very different from the first, the prog fans are eating well here haha.

Looks like he's rolling out a new song every Tuesday until the album drop. We got Economies two weeks ago, Tightrope last week, and it looks like we're getting Rock Bottom, the Ninet Tayeb feature song, tomorrow. Can't wait.

 

Latest song is the duet with Ninet. This might be my favourite so far! Sounds like a Bond song in the best way.

 

This is out today!

Can't wait to listen later with a good pair of headphones.

 

he was on that pedal show today

 

real fuckin good. Feels like Grace for Drowning, my personal favorite SW solo album, but instead of through a 60s-70s prog lens it's through more of a 90s-00s trip-hop/industrial lens.

 

don't think this is for me, unfortunately. everything sounds incredible and the production is unreal but i find myself getting tired of the songs before any of the ideas really start cooking.

 

Loving this one. Definitely agree that it feels complex and dense like Grace.

The sonic palette he is working with here is just so my vibe. I have two friends who also love PT/SW and we've all been mixed on the last couple albums, but this is the first one in a long time that we all unanimously love it.

Rock Bottom might still be the favourite, it totally rules, but there not shortage of other great tracks as well. Staircase is also pretty special.

 

Wilson's best work ever?

 

It's definitely up there! Not sure I would take this over HCE or Deadwing but it's in the pantheon for sure.

This was my favourite record of 2023, just kept coming back to it and discovering new wrinkles every time. Love how all of his sounds came together here, can't wait to see what he comes up with for the live shows.

 

finally spun this, I don't agree it's anywhere near his best work but it's pretty good. massive improvement over Future Bites although "Actual Brutal Facts" is as bad as anything on that album, he needs to stop doing that staccato deep voice thing lmao

"Time is Running Out" really grabbed me though, especially Akerfeldt's version. that's probably his best solo song for me since Raven