If you follow the fortunes of progressive rock then you must have come across Porcupine Tree in your travels. A band that not only has its own unique sound but one that is also comprised of individuals that are both talented and creative in their own right, numerous solo albums can be found from the various members of that all-consuming mother ship. John Wesley, the tall, quietly composed guitarist whose wonderful vocals can be heard to full effect on his spine-tingling performance on the epic ‘way out of here’ has worked over the years with some of the finest names in progressive rock from Fish to Sound of contact whilst also supporting acts such as Marillion, Porcupine tree and Blackfield under his own banner. ‘Disconnect’ is John’s seventh solo release since 1994’s ‘under the red and white sky’ and it sees John continuing to mark out his place as a progressive rock artist of note. A skilful, subtle, slow-burning album awash with beauty and emotion, it draws from a wide range of influences and rewards the listener with a graceful, carefully constructed ten song set that is not easily forgotten.
Opening with the title track, ‘disconnect’ opens as a cross between the ubiquitous Porcupine tree and Muse at their most restrained, John’s slightly roughened voice laden with yearning and delivered as a cross between Steven Wilson and Peter Gabriel. The guitars are densely packed and interwoven, weaving a silken web around the listener as the drums pound a hypnotic beat only for John to pull a Radiohead and unleash twin, distinct leads that swirl around like sparks in the wind. When the whole thing does, inevitably, fall in upon itself, it is to leave a surprisingly bluesy riff at the song’s core, echoing in the darkness before reprising the son’s chorus until the fade. ‘Any old saint’ pits wailing guitars and a gritty central riff against John’s gruff vocals on a track that, ten years ago, would easily have made the airwaves with its soaring melody, vocal harmonies and rich progressive textures extending into a lengthy mid-section that demonstrates John’s beautifully understated technique on the guitar, his fluid soloing recalling the stately David Gilmour on ‘comfortably numb’. It is a song destined to be a live showcase and deservedly so and it’s hard to imagine any progressive rock fan not falling in love with this carefully balanced mix of pop melody, gritty guitars and epic soloing. At similar length is ‘once a warrior’, an epic, dark-hearted tale of a warrior whose ability to leave behind his own past is rendered void by his violent deeds. With heavy rock riffs that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Led Zeppelin album and Mark Prator’s rhythmic barrage, the song neatly veers between subtle, rippling verses and heroic choruses with ease whilst the extended instrumental bridge offers up some brilliantly memorable guitar work that perfectly serves the song without becoming overly dense or frenetic. It’s a sure sign of John’s restraint that he can deliver so epic a song and yet know how to draw it to a close before it outstays its welcome.
Perhaps one of the more surprising tracks on the album, ‘window’ is a short track that focuses on the rich tapestry of AOR rather than progressive with its radio friendly verse and multi-layered harmonies although the guitar work of John and Dean tidy is never less than exceptional. ‘Gets you everytime’, in contrast, is a short sharp shock to the system rife with a haunting vocal and razor sharp riffs that come slicing in over mid-paced percussion and Patrick Bettisons throbbing bass. One of the album’s most immediately rock orientated tracks it packs a powerful punch and gives John the perfect opportunity to demonstrate a more aggressive soloing style than found elsewhere. Heading back into the dreamy progressive territory of the opening tracks, ‘Mary Will’ offers up vocals that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Journey album and offsets such traditionalist melodies with guitar playing that sparkles with creative energy and invention. In contrast ‘take what you need’ bristles with anger and chugging guitars juxtaposed with jazz-influenced percussion and echoing leads on the sparsely-arranged verses. Another track guaranteed to become a live favourite, ‘take what you need’ has it all from grinding guitars to atmospheric breaks via John’s uncharacteristically gritty vocal performance. ‘How goes the war’ opens to a short, sharp blast of martial percussion and heavy riffs before slipping into Muse territory with its richly arranged vocal harmonies and stylistic shifts. ‘New life Old Sweat’ is a compelling mix of psychedelic progressive and the blues with a taut stomp at its heart even as the acid-addled guitars tear across its surface. Imagine black rebel motorcycle club jamming with sonic youth and porcupine tree and you have a rough idea of where this excellent song is coming from. All too soon it is time for the album to draw to a close, which it does upon a poignant note with the folky ‘Satellite’, a gorgeous, aching lament that centres on John’s beautifully worn vocals and stunning guitar work. It serves as the perfect coda to an album that is never less than stunning, and it highlights just how talented a song writer John is.
‘Disconnect’ is the work of an artist who has developed his own unique style and who draws strength from his ability to project lush widescreen images upon an open sonic canvas. The album slips from genre to genre with ease, each change never fully apparent until after it has taken place, and John’s scintillating playing draws the whole thing together, his magisterial, ethereal work never overstated or outstaying its welcome. Bearing all the hallmarks of a great album, ‘disconnect’ ranges freely across the gamut of human emotion from the barely concealed rage of ‘gets you everytime’ to the lush beauty of ‘satellite’ and the whole perfectly demonstrates John’s remarkable skills as a singer, songwriter and guitarist whilst his expert band provide the perfect backdrop for his exertions. ‘Disconnect’ is, ultimately, a beautifully phrased, played, recorded and produced progressive rock album that stands as a testament to the skills of one of the genre’s unsung heroes and it is an essential addition to the collection of any progressive rock fan.
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