Le début 2021 se démarque par la sortie de nombreux albums remarquables que je voudrais vous présenter ici. C’est le cas du sixième album de Steven Wilson The Future Bites, initialement prévu en juin 2020 et enfin sorti le 29 janvier 2021.
Artiste exceptionnel aux multiples facettes, Steven Wilson est connu surtout comme fondateur du groupe britannique de rock progressif, Porcupine Tree mais aussi grâce à ces projets solo et avec d’autres musiciens (No-Man, Blackfield, Storm Corrosion)
Chanteur, multi-instrumentiste, compositeur et producteur accompli, le britannique a connu un immense succès en France avec son 5ème album solo To The Bone, étape importante dans sa carrière car, avec cet album il a élargi son public bien au-delà des amateurs de rock progressif.
Musicien visionnaire, Steven Wilson est le genre d’artiste qui ne va pas rester enfermé longtemps dans un seul style musical mais plutôt celui qui va chercher toujours à nous surprendre. C’est évident donc qu’on attendait The Future Bites avec beaucoup d’impatience.
The Future Bites est un album imprégné des sonorités innovantes électro pop et prog, des mélodies raffinées et psychédéliques.
Après une courte introduction avec Unself, on enchaine avec Self, une critique ironique envers une société obsédée par soi-même « self ». C’est une chanson qui annonce, en quelque sorte la tonalité plutôt enjouée de l’album, par rapport à ce qu’on aurait pu imaginer avec le titre choisi The Future Bites (Le Future Mord). On découvre les superbes chœurs féminins et cette belle interaction des voix homme – femme qui d’ailleurs sera très présente sur plusieurs morceaux de l’album.
King Ghost pulse avec une voix sublime qui monte dans le falsetto, une mélodie entêtante et délicate. Tout comme la chanson, la vidéo animée créée par Jess Cope illustre très bien la chanson avec des couleurs riches, l’expression de pensées et de sentiments à travers des images plutôt abstraites, ce qui colle parfaitement à la musique. C’est bien connu que Steven Wilson prête toujours une grande attention à interaction entre la musique et les images.
12 Things I forgot est comme une explosion d’allégresse. Sur une mélodie incroyablement catchy, le chanteur fait une série de confessions, des réflexions sur sa vie, évoque des regrets mais sur un ton joyeux. C’est mon titre préféré l’album.
Eminent Slease est très funky enrichi des choristes gospel suivi par MAN OF THE PEOPLE, intimiste, belle et apaisante. Les deux me rappelle Prince. Steven Wilson est un grand fan.
Personal Shopper est un morceau électro surpuissant qui dure plus 9 minutes. C’est tout simplement hypnotisant aux influences synthpop-dance 80’s et un chant façon Jimmy Somerville. Accompagnée par une vidéo flippante et cynique, cette chanson dénonce le consumérisme mégalo de notre société qui dépense sans limite dans des chose inutiles. L’intervention de Sir Elton John qui lit sobrement une liste d’achats des produits non essentiels (« boutons de manchette diamant », « savon de cendres volcaniques », « faux cils ») illustre brillamment cette fièvre acheteuse.
Follower est le morceau la plus rock de l’album avec des guitares brodées sur des claviers new wave puissantes. L’album se termine sur une note mélancolique et mystérieuse avec Count Of Unease est qui dévoile un Steven Wilson vulnérable et rêveur.
En conclusion, The Future Bites est un album imprégné des sonorités innovantes électro pop et prog, des mélodies raffinées et psychédéliques. Cette complexité musicale est complétée par des thèmes qui donnent à réfléchir sur notre monde actuel, l’ère Internet, le consumérisme, l’impact des médias sociaux ou l’estime de soi. The Future Bites est un album élégant et éclectique, résolument contemporain.
Au risque de décevoir les fans de la première heure, Steven Wilson change de style et sort de sa zone de confort avec The Future Bites. Un artiste audacieux en perpétuelle évolution vers des nouveaux horizons musicaux.
Steven Wilson sera en tournée en France à l’automne avec 7 dates. Plus d’infos et des dates sur http://www.stevenwilsonhq.com/sw/tour-dates/
Tracking List
01. Unself
02. Self
03. King Ghost
04. 12 Things I Forgot
05. Eminent Sleaze
06. Man Of The People
07. Personal Shopper
08. Follower
09. Count Of Unease
CREDITS and Team Track By Track
UNSELF
Steven Wilson – acoustic guitar, piano, shortwave radio, vocals.
David Kosten – programming.
Yali & Mia – voices.
SELF
Steven Wilson – acoustic and electric guitars, bass, synthesisers/samplers, shaker, vocals. David Kosten – programming. Michael Spearman – drums.
Richard Barbieri – synthesisers.
Wendy Harriott, Bobbie Gordon, Crystal Williams – vocals.
Rou Reynolds, Rina Mushonga,Mos Capri, JAKL – vocals.
Yali, Mia, Emilia, Lihi, Romi, Guy, Gali, Mati, Tom, Shai – the kids.
KING GHOST
Steven Wilson – synthesisers, shortwave radio, vocals.
David Kosten – programming, synthesisers.
Jason Cooper (courtesy of The Cure) – cymbals, percussion.
Michael Spearman – hi-hat.
12 THINGS I FORGOT
Steven Wilson – acoustic and electric guitars, piano, fender rhodes, synthesisers, bass, autoharp, vocals.
David Kosten – programming.
Michael Spearman – drums.
Blaine Harrison, Jack Flanagan (courtesy of Mystery Jets) – vocals.
EMINENT SLEAZE
Steven Wilson – hand percussion, handclaps, bass, electric guitar, fender rhodes, leslie piano, vocals. David Kosten – programming.
Nick Beggs – chapman stick, phased guitar, cutlery.
Adam Holzman – wahwah electric piano.
Michael Spearman – hi-hat.
Wendy Harriott, Bobbie Gordon, Crystal Williams – vocals.
String arrangement by SW, performed by the London Session Orchestra conducted by Guy Protheroe.
MAN OF THE PEOPLE
Steven Wilson – fender rhodes, synthesisers/ samplers, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, autoharp, vocals.
David Kosten – programming.
Michael Spearman – hi-hat.
PERSONAL SHOPPER
Steven Wilson – synthesisers/samplers, acoustic and electric guitars, percussion, vocals.
David Kosten – programming.
Elton John – voice.
Rotem Wilson – voice.
Nick Beggs – bass guitar.
Michael Spearman – drums.
Wendy Harriott, Bobbie Gordon,Crystal Williams, Fyfe Dangerfield – vocals.
FOLLOWER
Steven Wilson – synthesisers/samplers, piano, acoustic and electric guitars (solo on amplified acoustic), bass, shortwave radio, vocals.
David Kosten – programming.
Michael Spearman – drums.
Adam Holzman – doepfer modular synthesiser.
COUNT OF UNEASE
Steven Wilson – percussion, piano, hammond organ, synthesisers, bass, short- wave radio, electric guitar, vibraphone, vocals.
David Kosten – drone.
All music and words by Steven Wilson.
Published by Hands Off It’s Mine Publishing, administered by Universal Publishing Music Group.
Produced by David Kosten and Steven Wilson.
Recorded by David Kostenat Muttley Ranch, London.
Additional recording at Snap Studios by Marco Pasquariello.
Editing by Mo Hausler.
Mixed by David Kosten
except 2 and 4 mixed by Cenzo Townshend.
5.1 mix by Steven Wilson.
Dolby Atmos mix by Steven Wilson and Jake Fields.
Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering, Portland, Maine.
Elton John appears courtesy of Virgin / EMI Records.
Michael Spearman appears courtesy of Everything Everything (and Kyle).
Devices used – Arp 2600, EMS VCS3, Solina String Ensemble, Roland Jupiter 8, Sequential Circuits Prophet VI, Sequential Circuits Pro 1, Casio SK1, Arturia Matrixbrute, Memorymoog, East West Ghostwriter VI, Logic Pro instruments, Soniccouture Xtended Piano.
English Version
Beginning of 2021 stands out with the release of many remarkable albums that I would like to present to you here. This is the case of Steven Wilson’s sixth album The Future Bites, originally scheduled for June 2020 and finally released on January 29, 2021.
An exceptional multi-faceted artist, Steven Wilson is best known as the founder of the British progressive rock band Porcupine Tree, but also thanks to his solo projects or with other musicians (No-Man, Blackfield, Storm Corrosion).
Singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and accomplished producer, the British artist has enjoyed a huge success in France with his 5th solo album To The Bone, an important step in his career because, with this album he has expanded his audience far beyond progressive rock fans.
A visionary musician, Steven Wilson is the kind of artist who will not stay locked in a single musical style for a long time, but rather the one who will always try to surprise us. So, it’s obvious that we were looking forward to listen to The Future Bites.
The Future Bites is an album infused with innovative electro pop and progressive sounds, refined and atmospheric melodies…
After a short introduction with Unself, we follow up with Self, an ironic critique of a self-obsessed society by “self”. It’s a song that announces, in a way the rather a rather joyful tone of the album, compared to what one could have imagined with the chosen title The Future Bites. We discover also the superb female choirs /backing vocals and this beautiful interaction of male-female voices which will be very present on several tracks of the album.
King Ghost pulses with a sublime voice that rises into the falsetto, a catchy and delicate melody. Like the song, the animated video created by Jess Cope illustrates the song very well with rich colors, the expression of thoughts and feelings through rather abstract images, which fits perfectly with the music. It is well known that Steven Wilson always pays great attention to the interaction between music and images.
12 things I forgot is like an explosion of joy. On an incredibly catchy melody, the singer makes a series of confessions, reflections on his life, reproaches himself and evokes regrets but in a cheerful tone. This is my favourite title the album. Eminent Slease is funky enriched with gospel choristers followed by MAN OF THE PEOPLE, intimate, beautiful and soothing. Both remind me of Prince. Steven Wilson is a big fan.
Personal Shopper is an overpowering electro track that lasts more than 9 minutes. It’s simply mesmerizing with 80’s synthpop-dance influences and a Jimmy Somerville-style vocal. Accompanied by a creepy and cynical video, this song denounces the consumerism of our society that spends unlimitedly on useless things. The intervention of Sir Elton John, who soberly reads a shopping list of non-essential products (“diamond cufflinks,” “volcanic ash soap,” “false eyelashes”, “Branded water”) is brilliant to evoke on this buying fever.
Follower is the most rock song on the album with guitars embroidered on powerful new wave keyboards. The album ends on a melancholy and mysterious note with Count Of Unease which reveals a vulnerable and dreamy Steven Wilson.
In conclusion, The Future Bites is an album infused with innovative electro pop and progressive sounds, refined and atmospheric melodies. This musical complexity is complemented by thought-provoking themes about our current world, the Internet age, consumerism, the impact of social media or self-esteem. The Future Bites is an elegant and eclectic album, resolutely contemporary.
Steven Wilson gets out of his comfort zone and take the risk of disappointing his biggest fans. A bold artist that reaches out towards new musical horizons.
Steven Wilson will perform 7 gigs in France. For more dates and information
http://www.stevenwilsonhq.com/sw/tour-dates/
Tracking List
01. Unself
02. Self
03. King Ghost
04. 12 Things I Forgot
05. Eminent Sleaze
06. Man Of The People
07. Personal Shopper
08. Follower
09. Count Of Unease
CREDITS and Team Track By Track
UNSELF
Steven Wilson – acoustic guitar, piano, shortwave radio, vocals.
David Kosten – programming.
Yali & Mia – voices.
SELF
Steven Wilson – acoustic and electric guitars, bass, synthesisers/samplers, shaker, vocals. David Kosten – programming. Michael Spearman – drums.
Richard Barbieri – synthesisers.
Wendy Harriott, Bobbie Gordon, Crystal Williams – vocals.
Rou Reynolds, Rina Mushonga,Mos Capri, JAKL – vocals.
Yali, Mia, Emilia, Lihi, Romi, Guy, Gali, Mati, Tom, Shai – the kids.
KING GHOST
Steven Wilson – synthesisers, shortwave radio, vocals.
David Kosten – programming, synthesisers.
Jason Cooper (courtesy of The Cure) – cymbals, percussion.
Michael Spearman – hi-hat.
12 THINGS I FORGOT
Steven Wilson – acoustic and electric guitars, piano, fender rhodes, synthesisers, bass, autoharp, vocals.
David Kosten – programming.
Michael Spearman – drums.
Blaine Harrison, Jack Flanagan (courtesy of Mystery Jets) – vocals.
EMINENT SLEAZE
Steven Wilson – hand percussion, handclaps, bass, electric guitar, fender rhodes, leslie piano, vocals. David Kosten – programming.
Nick Beggs – chapman stick, phased guitar, cutlery.
Adam Holzman – wahwah electric piano.
Michael Spearman – hi-hat.
Wendy Harriott, Bobbie Gordon, Crystal Williams – vocals.
String arrangement by SW, performed by the London Session Orchestra conducted by Guy Protheroe.
MAN OF THE PEOPLE
Steven Wilson – fender rhodes, synthesisers/ samplers, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, autoharp, vocals.
David Kosten – programming.
Michael Spearman – hi-hat.
PERSONAL SHOPPER
Steven Wilson – synthesisers/samplers, acoustic and electric guitars, percussion, vocals.
David Kosten – programming.
Elton John – voice.
Rotem Wilson – voice.
Nick Beggs – bass guitar.
Michael Spearman – drums.
Wendy Harriott, Bobbie Gordon,Crystal Williams, Fyfe Dangerfield – vocals.
FOLLOWER
Steven Wilson – synthesisers/samplers, piano, acoustic and electric guitars (solo on amplified acoustic), bass, shortwave radio, vocals.
David Kosten – programming.
Michael Spearman – drums.
Adam Holzman – doepfer modular synthesiser.
COUNT OF UNEASE
Steven Wilson – percussion, piano, hammond organ, synthesisers, bass, short- wave radio, electric guitar, vibraphone, vocals.
David Kosten – drone.
All music and words by Steven Wilson.
Published by Hands Off It’s Mine Publishing, administered by Universal Publishing Music Group.
Produced by David Kosten and Steven Wilson.
Recorded by David Kostenat Muttley Ranch, London.
Additional recording at Snap Studios by Marco Pasquariello.
Editing by Mo Hausler.
Mixed by David Kosten
except 2 and 4 mixed by Cenzo Townshend.
5.1 mix by Steven Wilson.
Dolby Atmos mix by Steven Wilson and Jake Fields.
Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering, Portland, Maine.
Elton John appears courtesy of Virgin / EMI Records.
Michael Spearman appears courtesy of Everything Everything (and Kyle).
Devices used – Arp 2600, EMS VCS3, Solina String Ensemble, Roland Jupiter 8, Sequential Circuits Prophet VI, Sequential Circuits Pro 1, Casio SK1, Arturia Matrixbrute, Memorymoog, East West Ghostwriter VI, Logic Pro instruments, Soniccouture Xtended Piano.
Rock Art Fashion 
You must be logged in to post a comment.