STEVEN WILSON HAND. CANNOT. ERASE. AVAILABLE TODAY
Steven Wilson’s conceptual masterpiece, Hand. Cannot. Erase. (Kscope), released today to critical acclaim – the groundbreaking songwriter, four-time Grammy-nominated artist, multi-instrumentalist and producer, has long been celebrated by an elite audience of audiophiles and tastemakers, with the new release eclipsing all expectation.
The critics so far:
“Hand. Cannot. Erase. is an album rooted in sonic and spiritual modernity, largely eschewing early prog tropes in favour of an inventive blend of lbealk and brooding industrial soundscapes and rugged muscular ensemble performances from Wilson’s virtuoso henchmen…” Score: 5/5 – The Guardian
“…Wilson set out to capture Vincen’ts life as only he can – through sprawling, dense, challenging and often strikingly beautiful music. The result is Hand. Cannot. Erase….” – Buffalo News
“Hand. Cannot. Erase. is nothing short of an epic tale of modern-day isolation.” – Huffington Post
“It’s beautiful and haunting. As with many great prog records, there’s no shortage of musical layers, instruments and themes.” – Huffington Post
“What’s striking about Hand. Cannot. Erase. is its vast spectrum of musical colors and the life-affirming vitality of its hummable melodies. Wilson’s best album to date…” – Under The Radar
“…produced and mixed by Wilson, the album is sonically rich and detailed. It’s an immense, imaginative landscape that melds classic album rock, sophisticated ’80s pop, metal, prog, and electronica in expertly crafted songs.” – All Music
“Bucking virtually every convention in today’s music business, Wilson’s career and exponential rise to fame has, quite simply, been extraordinary.” – All About Jazz
“It’s this ability to combine narrative and music in brave and adventurous ways during a time when the very longevity of the album-as-cohesive-statement is constantly being questioned that makes Wilson one of the most compelling musicians of his era. His music seeks to connect on a deeply human level, and stands in contrast to a popular music culture obsessed with disposability. This makes him a rare and precious commodity.” – Buffalo News
“If Neil Young is the “Godfather of Grunge,” then Wilson has likewise (and rightfully) earned his place as the “Patriarch of Prog.”” – Seattle Post-Intelligencer
“Musically, it’s a full-course sound-and-genre menu that runs the gamut from epic prog-rock to industrial textures and rhythms to pastoral acoustic pop.” – Music Radar
“..a rich musical journey with numerous moments of vivid melodic simplicity…” Score: 5/5 – The Guardian
“If there is any such a thing as a renaissance man left in popular music, then Steven Wilson is surely it.” – Seattle Post-Intelligencer
“…there is a cohesive and strong narrative to the album, there are enough music twists throughout the 11 tracks to keep you on the journey right to the very end.” – fdrmx
“…rather than being a Progressive Rock album with a capital “P,” this is a progressive album in the dictionary sense of the word; an album that represents progression for Wilson and, with its unintended but undeniable crossover appeal, an album that moves music forward in a way that’s detailed under the hood but immediately accessible throughout.” – All About Jazz
“This troubling but deeply moving record is a metaphorical treatise on societal alienation, loneliness, and urban dislocation, offered without pretension. It is aesthetically attractive while being emotionally and intellectually resonant; pop music can hope for no more.” – All Music
“Hand. Cannot. Erase. is a crystal clear indicator of just what can be achieved with a little thought, some finely-honed talent, a quality team, and plenty of hard work. Box-negating, limit-ignoring, and utterly fantastic.” – The Music Melting Pot
“Steven Wilson has once again achieved a perfect mix. It is delicate and dynamic, and it has a lot of space for everything to breathe.” – The Monolith
“…Steven Wilson’s new album, Hand. Cannot. Erase., is simply The Thing That Shouldn’t Be: Eleven tracks clocking in at over 65 minutes, it the genuine concept record article, built more for sustained, top-to-bottom listening experiences rather than short-bite consumption.” – Music Radar
“As someone capable of delivering accessible music that is, at the same time, compositionally and lyrically deep—detailed and, at times, unapologetically complex—Wilson makes absolutely no compromises in doing what he does. And yet, almost in spite of it all, his star continues on an increasingly rapid upward trajectory.” – All About Jazz
“Hand. Cannot. Erase. grabs your full attention from the beginning to the very final note…the sign of a great album.” – fdrmx
“Wilson’s refined skill as a songwriter and studio guru combine to fashion songs that deserve a much wider audience than one that views his work as a modern equivalent of Pink Floyd and Genesis.” Score: 5/5 – The Guardian
“Steven Wilson’s new album is that perfect hybrid of edgy pop and progressive rock” – Power of Pop
Co-produced by the four-time Grammy-nominated artist, multi-instrumentalist and producer, Hand. Cannot. Erase. is available at retailers nationwide and digitally with a limited deluxe edition for pre-order via Kscope (http://bit.ly/1DhHN6c). Steven Wilson and his band will embark on a tour through the UK and Europe in March and April 2015, then head to North America dedicating much of the summer beginning on May 21 in Albany – itinerary below.
Best known as founder and front man of British rock act Porcupine Tree, Wilson has produced and collaborated with diverse acts as Opeth, Blackfield, Yes, Roxy Music, and XTC. His prolific engineering work can be heard on his mixes of classic releases from King Crimson, Jethro Tull, and most recently the 5.1 surround sound version of Tears For Fears’ classic Songs From The Big Chair reissue, released in November 2014. Porcupine Tree’s last album went top 30 in both the UK and USA, and the tour climaxed with sold out shows at Royal Albert Hall in London and Radio City Music Hall in New York.
Following the release of his critically acclaimed 2012 release, The Raven That Refused to Sing, Wilson set out on a world tour, having assembled a virtuoso band – Marco Minnemann (drums), Nick Beggs (bass), Theo Travis (flute and sax), Adam Holzman (keys) and Guthrie Govan (guitar). His latest studio creation completed, the cinematic Hand. Cannot. Erase. features dynamic performances by Wilson, his touring ensemble, and vocal accompaniment from
Ninet Tayeb.
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North American Tour dates:
May 21 The Egg Albany
May 22 Berklee Performance Center Boston
May 23 The Whitaker Center Harrisburg
May 26 930 Club Washington, DC
May 28 Keswick Theatre Glenside, PA
May 29 Best Buy Theater New York City
May 30 Best Buy Theater New York City
May 31 The Grand Wilmington, Delaware
Jun 02 The Palace Theatre Pittsburgh
Jun 04 Park West Chicago, Illinois
Jun 05 Park West Chicago, Illinois
Jun 06 Barrymore Theater Madison
Jun 09 Boulder Theater Boulder, CO
Jun 11 Mesa Arts Center Mesa, Arizona
Jun 12 The Grove Anaheim
Jun 13 The Wiltern Los Angeles
Jun 14 The Warfield San Francisco
Jun 16 Aladdin Theater Portland
Jun 17 Neptune Theater Seattle
Jun 20 Vogue Theatre Vancouver
Jun 22 Myer Horowitz Theatre Edmonton
Jun 23 Theatre Junction Grand(Flanagan) Calgary
Jun 26 The Danforth Music Hall Toronto
Jun 27 Montreal Jazz Festival Montreal
Jun 28 Montreal Jazz Festival Montreal
Jun 29 Impérial Quebec City
Progarchy 