Porcupine Tree - Stars Die: The Delerium Years 1991-1997 [2005 Reissue]

U.K. art rock outfit Porcupine Tree devotes an entire box set to their early- to mid-'90s downtempo/prog rock period. Stars Die: The Delerium Years '91-97 narrows its focus to the group's psychedelic, pre-ambient Pink Floyd era that relied heavily on guitarist/founder Steven Wilson's more pop-oriented — but still epic — compositions. The two discs pack 21 assorted rarities, previously unreleased tracks, and new mixes into an elegant box featuring a deluxe 40-page booklet that's worth the price of the collection itself. Listeners looking for an entry point into this Porcupine Tree period would do well giving this anthology a shot, while fans of acts like Ozric Tentacles, Tangerine Dream, and Flying Saucer Attack, who have remained in the dark about the group, will likely find them to be a new and wonderful addiction.
by James Christopher Monger,
Track Listing
CD1 (1991-1993)
1 "Radioactive Toy" – 10:10 (from On the Sunday of Life)
2 "Nine Cats" – 3:51 (from On the Sunday of Life)
3 "And the Swallows Dance Above the Sun" – 4:02 (from On the Sunday of Life)
4 "The Nostalgia Factory" – 7:33 (from On the Sunday of Life)
5 "Voyage 34 (Phase One)" – 12:54 (from the Voyage 34 single)
6 "Synesthesia" (Extended Version) – 7:54 (previously unreleased, original version on Up the Downstair)
7 "Phantoms" – 3:14 (previously unreleased, except for internet .mp3 downloads)
8 "Up the Downstair" – 10:09 (2001 remix, original version on Up the Downstair)
9 "Fadeaway" – 6:16 (2001 remix, original version on Up the Downstair)
10 "Rainy Taxi" – 6:52 (from Staircase Infinities)
CD2 (1994-1997)
1 "Stars Die" – 5:06 (from the US version of The Sky Moves Sideways)
2 "The Sky Moves Sideways (Phase One)" – 18:37 (from the UK version of The Sky Moves Sideways)
3 "Men of Wood" – 3:35 (previously unreleased)
4 "Waiting" – 4:29 (from Signify)
5 "The Sound of No-One Listening" – 8:13 (2001 remix, original version on the Waiting CD single)
6 "Colourflow in Mind" – 3:49 (from the Waiting 12" single)
7 "Fuse the Sky" – 4:33 (from the Waiting 12" single)
8 "Signify II" – 6:04 (previously unreleased)
9 "Every Home Is Wired" – 5:13 (from Signify)
10 "Sever" – 5:33 (from Signify)
11 "Dark Matter" – 8:12 (from Signify)
All tracks ripped with EAC in secure mode, VBR LAME alt preset standard