In what might be the most exciting news I’ve been able to exclusively share, UK progressive rock band Porcupine Tree have announced that they are in the studio working on a new album! This new album from the band will be the first since 2009’s The Incident and their eleventh studio release.
I managed to speak with frontman Steven Wilson recently and he explained the real reason for the band’s long hiatus:
Things were going really well with the band after ‘The Incident’ came out. The tours were great, Roadrunner was really supportive, everything was in order. But as we were touring, I happened to watch an episode of the new ‘My Little Pony’ show and it hooked me entirely. Since then, I’ve been completely caught up in that world and I’ve only been able to take myself away for my own music. Pinkie Pie is my favorite.
Admittedly, I was a little shocked at this revelation and explanation. After all, it just seemed so…odd.
Wilson added:
I’m not a “brony”, by any means. I just found that it inspired me a great deal. Many of the songs on my solo albums are actually hidden references to my love of this show.
Coming to the new Porcupine Tree album, Wilson began gushing:
We’re going to steer away from the dark and melancholic styles that have pervaded the last few albums. Instead, I told everyone to listen to the happiest music they could find. I also have reached out to Lisa Frank about creating the album artwork. I think that’s going to really set this album apart and begin the chapter in ‘The Tree’.
There is no confirmed release date but the band will be entering the studio he says, “…late summer, early fall.”
After we exchanged our goodbyes, I hung up my Chatter Telephone and went back to my tea time with Binky the Clown, Harold the Teddy Bear, and Belinda the Princess. Sadly, we did not have any crumpets.
