I hate to bring up the subject of Porcupine Tree within a review like this, considering they've been gone for years now, but the band made such an impact to me, that every time founder and frontman Steven Wilson releases or produces an album, I find myself wishing for a grand reunion before returning to normality and the grim reality that it probably never will happen.
Wilson has kept himself busy with a steady stream of releases, re-releases, guest spots (although even he couldn't save Blackfield IV) and adding his magic touch to King Crimson's back catalogue and, part of me was really looking forward to this album, as some of my most favourite albums had been lovingly crafted from him and there really was a chance, that this could be my coveted album of the year.
Hand. Cannot. Erase. is Wilson's fourth solo album and third since the band's indefinite hiatus. His previous two albums (one of which can be read here) are impressive, especially Grace for Drowning which is one only two modern double albums I can honestly say, needed to be a double album. Even retrospectively, my internal score of an eight feels harsh considering how many times I've listened to the record and been blown away by either the production or new elements within the many tracks.
Of course with this many albums under his solo banner, there was always the possibility (or certainty) that something would have to give and although not a bad record, or even an average record, it certainly feels the closest in terms of a let down.
It's a record that perhaps would have benefited from either significant excision and cutting or expansion into a double album. As a single playthrough; the album feel incredibly long with very few new and innovative moments compared to the longer masterpieces in both Wilson and Porcupine Tree's back catalogues.
Stranger still is the fact that the album's more enjoyable moments come from the shorter tracks. The title track is a superb pop-rock number and Regret #9 (whilst pushing it at a 'hefty' five minutes) is a dark instrumental number, eerily reminiscent of the darker elements of Raider II.
Musically, Perfect Life is an oddity in Wilson's solo catalogue with only say; Drive Home and Postcard remotely close to it, but it's a welcome addition to this album, even if the spoken words by Katherine Jenkins have the subtly of a sledgehammer to the skull in terms of melancholy, plus there's a few awkward moments sprinkled between, what sounds like, cute little nods to Porcupine Tree song titles.
Whilst the longer tracks aren't as impressive as they were on previous albums, they have some highlights, 3 Years Older in particular opens the album at a blitzing pace, even if it bares more than a passing resemblance to Luminol. On the polar opposite side of the album is Ancestral which again, feels more like a rehash of Raider II but with less oomph. It's not bad, but, as blasphemous as it sounds, it doesn't really need to be over thirteen minutes long and doesn't really give the album the last hurrah before Happy Returns and Ascendant Here On...close it.
For me; Hand. Cannot. Erase. is Wilson's worst solo album. However, his worst is still considerably more impacting and more impressive than what many others will only hope to achieve in an entire music career. There's also plenty to take away from it and no doubt, you'll find some new favourites within, but ultimately; unlike his previous solo material and all of Porcupine Tree's back catalogue excluding On the Sunday of Life..., it's the first time an album truly feels a bit too long, but hey, first time in over twenty years, that's gotta count for something.
7/10
H
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