23rd Day Of December

 

Steven Wilson - Last Day Of June [MOVATM335 UK 2021 24-Bit FLAC]

On the subject of all things SWilson, Last Day Of June snuck out in 2017 as a download only as the soundtrack of a PS4 game of the same title. The game itself revolves around the life of animated characters developed by Jess Cope for Wilson's Drive Home video, the music is an assemblage of Wilson's work between 2004 and 2016, focusing on sections from his more melodic compositions with Porcupine Tree, his solo work and the drone alter-ego, Bass Communion - all mixed, edited and sequenced into new pieces.

This is a gorgeous piece of work, revealing the man's talent as a composer of almost classical music, broken up by occasional uptempo melodic rock. The purists will turn their noses up at the lack of a long Guthrie Govan guitar solo on Driving Home, everybody else will find something to love. This could also be the ideal introduction to those not so familiar with the man's work.

Surprisingly, this release has found its way onto the Music On Vinyl label, I chose to avoid the blue vinyl edition, instead opting for the purer black pressing.

A1 Some Things Cannot Be Changed

A2 That Day by The Pier

A3 There Must Be A Way

A4 The Last Day Of June

A5 Suspended In Me

A6 Driving Home

B1 I’m Still Here…

B2 The Boy Who Lost His Friends

B3 The Crib

B4 Time For A New Start

B5 Suspended In You

B6 Under The Shadow Of My Father

B7 Accept

B8 Deceive

B9 Together, Forever Again