Steven Wilson’s triumphant return to his Prog Rock roots with “The Overview”
28th March 2025
By Liam Hair, Moshpit EP
Legendary UK based musician Steven Wilson released his newest offering on the 14th March of this year entitled “The Overview”. Returning to a sound that made him a household name with the industry with his iconic Progressive Rock “Porcupine Tree” and his early solo plus a portfolio of remixes with Progressive Rock acts like “Jethro Tull”, “King Crimson”, “Yes” and “Gentle Giant” to new wave acts like “Tears For Fears” and “XTC”, Wilson presents us with a classic feast for the Progressive Rock fandom with one long song on each side of the record titled “Objects Outlive Us” and “The Overview” which showcase the space opera like presentation of the concept of the overview effect from space as caused by a cognitive shift from viewing earth from space.
Steven Wilson delivers us a record that will tickle the fancy of fans of experimental Progressive Rock and fans of the classic Progressive Rock format from bands like Pink Floyd, Vangelis, Tangerine Dream and even early Kraftwerk can be heard throughout Wilson’s newest offering which remind us record lovers that fantastic work can be a mere 2 songs long and have a meaningful impact.
Joining Wilson in this album are XTC’s Guitarist and Lead Frontman Andy Partridge who contributed lyrics on Objects Outlive Us while him and Wilson were busy tidying up his own band’s latest offering in their long effort of remixing their catalogue with the Steven Wilson remixes and 5.1 Surround Sound mixes for their diamond in the rough 1984 release “The Big Express”
(Below, Steven Wilson and XTC member Andy Patridge in 2024 assumed during the Big Express remixing sessions/sessions for the Overview. Image Credit: Innerviews via instagram)
As for the rest of the album, is as follows:
Objects Outlive Us"
Steven Wilson – vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, percussion, piano, pump organ,
production, mixing, engineering
Adam Holzman – Hammond organ, Mellotron, piano, Rhodes, synthesizer
Randy McStine – background vocals, guitar, sound effects, vocals
Theo Travis – flute, saxophone
Russell Holzman – drums
Willow Beggs – vocals
"The Overview"
Steven Wilson – vocals, guitar, bass, drum programming, keyboards, percussion,
piano, pump organ, production, mixing, engineering
Adam Holzman – background vocals, piano, Rhodes, synthesizer
Randy McStine – background vocals, guitar, keyboards, sound effects, ukulele,
vocals
Niko Tsonev - guitar
Craig Blundell – drums
Theo Travis – saxophone
Rotem Wilson – voice
Wilson has announced also a return to Australia for The Overview Tour and marking his first return to Australia in 7 years and stopping at the following venues at these dates:
Wed, Nov 12: Astor Theatre, Perth
Thurs, Nov 13: Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide
Sat, Nov 15: The Forum, Melbourne
Sun, Nov 16: ICC Darling Harbour Theatre, Sydney
Mon, Nov 17: QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane
If you are after a record that will put in the mindset of seeing our home through the sounds of experimental synth, riffs that hit that perfect spot and a return form that has seen Wilson dominate his own home charts in a time where Progressive Rock is falling in and out of favour in the mainstream charts then go forth and find a copy of Steven’s brilliant new release that proves he still has got that charm and sound that made him the person he is today.
5/5
