Search - Porcupine Tree :: Lazarus

Back from the Dead

Kort Kramer | South Florida, USA | 04/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well, not really, but they have been away for a while. Porcupine Tree is back with a vengance with this pre-release single from their new album, Deadwing. As with all of PT's music, these songs are well crafted and moving and a perfect follow up from their last album.



Larzarus is great and so are the other 2 non-album tracks. In fact, the epic Half-light was intended to close out the Deadwing album, but was later replaced by Glass Arm Shattering.



If you are a PT fan, then you must own this. If you are new to the group, try out a few of their albums to get a feel for them. In Abstenia comes closest to this sound. I think you'll fall in love with them and rush to get this single. Worth the price of admission for Half-Light, which you can only otherwise get if you pick up the special edition Deadwing album release or DVD-A version, and So Called Friend, only available here."

An amazing Porcupine Tree EP to accompany Deadwing

John Besse | Florida | 07/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Lazarus is the first "single" release in disc form taken from the Deadwing album by Porcupine Tree. Containing one release off of the album in radio edit form and two B-sides that were going to be concluded on the album, Lazarus is just a three song EP/Single. This single CD is the perfect companion to Porcupine Tree's 2005 full-length release of Deadwing.



Lazarus released in March about the same time as the full length album, and contains two songs not featured on Deadwing. You can say these are B-sides, but truth of the matter is they were going to be album tracks. Deadwing ended up being a total of 59:46 musically, which was originally slated to be a ten song album totaling roughly 65 minutes. Steven Wilson, front man of Porcupine Tree, decided to cut "So Called Friend" and "Half-Light" from Deadwing, replacing them with the current album finisher, "Glass Arm Shattering." I like Glass Arm Shattering a lot, but I'm not sure where the decision came from to shorten the album and take away another heavy track.



Most Porcupine Tree fans have been raving about Lazarus which appears as track three on Deadwing. The radio edit is no different from the album version, minus the ambient noise that closes the song. Slightly under four minutes, Lazarus is one of Porcupine Tree's most beautiful songs. Lazarus is a very mellow song accompanied by soft piano work, light acoustic strumming guitar, pretty hammered dulcimer work, supple vocal harmonies and well blended mellotron choirs. All in all, Lazarus is an amazing song that is joyful on the ears. I utterly adore this song. Lazarus is just so likable on so many different levels and you don't have to be a fan of Porcupine Tree to enjoy it.



So Called Friend is a song similar to Shallow on Deadwing. They both are rock songs and share a similar level of intensity done the Porcupine Tree way. As is my understanding, every song recorded during the Deadwing session is based upon the Steven Wilson ghost story screenplay. So Called Friend definitely fits the scheme of the Deadwing album, and has the similar ghost story background. This song would have fit seamlessly after Open Car and The Start of Something Beautiful. However, Steven Wilson did not want to put it there. My guess is that since Lazarus and Mellotron Scratch were the only soft songs up to this point, he probably did not want to keep the album on a heavier pace. Instead he decided to just conclude Deadwing with Glass Arm Shattering. Nonetheless, So Called Friend is definitely an enjoyable song. Yet I can understand that it did not need to make the album. At least it was released and given to us as track two on the Lazarus single!



Similar to Glass Arm Shattering in a lot of ways, Half-Light is a beautiful end to the Lazarus single. This song is a little over six minutes long (same as Glass Arm Shattering) and contains three small verses of lyrics. This is a very mellow, relaxing and spacey song as well. Half-Light is pretty, but it is another atmospheric Porcupine Tree song. There really isn't a lot going on with it, but if you enjoyed Glass Arm Shattering... You will be very pleased with Half-Light.



All in all, if you truly love the Deadwing album, then you won't want to miss out on Porcupine Tree's extra tracks showing up on the Lazarus single. So Called Friend and Half-Light are just as brilliant as any other song that appeared on Deadwing. However, if you are just a casual listener to Deadwing, you probably won't find these two songs to be anything special. Personally, I like the two songs a lot. Yet Deadwing was still an amazing album the way it was released. I guess what it boils down to is whether or not you can justify spending about the same price as an album to get a hold of two extra songs. For my part, I would validate the purchase of the Lazarus single as I highly recommend the two extra songs: So Called Friend and Half-Light.

"

They are back and they are hot!

Anthony Morelli | Montreal, Canada | 04/27/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A perfect pre-release to a perfect album. Too bad all 3 tracks didn't make it to the DeadWing album, though. All 3 sure do fit so well together! Gee...hasn't it been like forever, since PT released a single? "Lazarus" is my favorite track from the Deadwing CD. If you read my review for the DeadWing, you'd remember this...and I quote:



"Lazarus" showcases Steven Wilson's soft voice, stunning lyrics and the soft, flowing piano. Of course, the song couldn't be complete without the mellotron. It's definitely one of their best songs ever recorded!"



I'm not a new PT fan (have been since 1999). I will always stand by my feelings for PT's music & for this particular song. It was craftily written and has helped me through some emotional tolls. Definitely one of PT's most "Feel Good" songs, for all reasons. SW has this effect on probably most...if not all...his fans, with lots of his songs. But "Lazarus" helps soothe me when I'm feeling down. Sorry if I sound corny or sappy, but it's how I feel. Isn't this what writing a review is all about? (Emotions, thoughts)



Since the release of "In Absentia", I actually had my doubts that PT would go back to their "Signature Sound"...which made them famous on albums such as ("Lightbulb Sun", "Stupid Dream", "The Sky Moves Sideways" and "Up the Downstair"). Since buying & listening to the "Lazarus" single, my doubts have clearly vanished, because SW has proven they still can balance styles & sounds with their signature touch.



Nice cover artwork & slimline packaging. Fits very well, placed vertically in a shelf. If you are a PT/Blackfield fan, this single is a Must-Have!"